OrphanCare rescues 77 babies in 2024, surpassing last year’s total of 55
A total of 635 babies have been saved since its inception in 2008.
OrphanCare Foundation has successfully saved 77 babies in 2024 alone, surpassing the previous year's total of 55.
This achievement highlights the foundation's ongoing efforts in rescuing and reintegrating children, with 635 saved since its inception in 2008.
Orphancare General Manager Zakiah A. Rahman emphasised that the foundation’s baby hatch programme which includes branches in Sungai Petani and Johor Bahru, has been instrumental in this success.
“Our main focus has been on baby hatches, but we also prioritise other critical areas, including the reintegration of children and the adoption of older children.
“This year alone, we have successfully saved 77 children, bringing the total number saved to 635. This is a significant increase compared to last year, where we were able to save 55 children from January to December,” she said when met at the OrphanCare Foundation in Bukit Gasing, Petaling Jaya, recently.
A media appreciation session was held at their headquarters where it was attended by Chairman Tan Sri Faizah Mohd Tahir and fellow trustees Datin Elya Lim Abdullah, Nor’aini Hashim, and Datuk Aminah Abdul Rahman.
She also shared data showing the breakdown of the 675 children saved, with 505 coming from walk-in birth mothers and 126 being babies placed in the baby hatch. The baby hatch initiative accounts for 30 percent of the children rescued by OrphanCare, with 126 babies saved through this service alone.
“Following rescue efforts, children are placed in various care pathways. Of the 396 babies saved, 224 have been reintegrated with their mothers who chose to self-parent, while 15 children were referred to the Department of Social Welfare (JKM) for further care and support,” she added.
Zakiah stressed this progress reflects the organisation's increasing capacity, supported by its two baby hatch locations in Sungai Petani and Johor Bahru. The Johor Bahru location has recently moved to new premises.
The organisation has built strong partnerships with hospitals, including KPJ Hospitals and An-Nur Hospital in Bangi. These partnerships have helped OrphanCare reach more at-risk infants. Other KPJ branches, such as in Tawakal, Ipoh, Seremban, Kota Bharu, and Kuantan, have also contributed to the initiative.
She said that reintegration efforts also extend to children who were previously placed in institutions. Since 2008, OrphanCare has successfully reunited 82 children with their families, emphasising that this process is often complex and requires extensive assessment and care planning.
“For older children, we have successfully reintegrated 28 children aged 2 years and above.
“These children had previously been placed in institutions, and we have worked towards their reintegration into family care, specifically removing them from RKK (Rumah Kanak-Kanak) under the Department of Social Welfare (JKM),” she said.
Beyond operational efforts, OrphanCare has been instrumental in advocating for policy change. Faizah stated that the organisation was actively involved in the 2016 amendment to the Child Act, which introduced family-based care.
She said by providing valuable insights from their 15 years of experience, OrphanCare aims to further collaborate with the government on policy formulation to improve the welfare of children.
They hope to expand their impact and continue to be a partner to the government in shaping better policies for child care and protection.
Additionally, OrphanCare seeks to correct misconceptions surrounding baby abandonment, emphasising that leaving a child at a baby hatch is not a crime.
“They thought abandoning babies outside was a crime, but it's not. You can tell them that it's not a crime to bring the babies to us. It's not a crime.
“The police have confirmed this. They told us to place the baby in the hatch or bring the baby in, as this is an act of saving lives. However, leaving a baby by the roadside or in a drain is a crime,” Fauziah said.
Through these initiatives, OrphanCare Foundation continues to make a meaningful difference, providing vital services for children in need while also contributing to broader systemic change in child welfare policies.
