Switzerland this week installed its eighth 'baby
hatch' - a hole in the wall where mothers are able to
anonymously drop off unwanted newborn babies. The latest hatch is
located at a hospital in the city of Sion, joining those in Bern,
Davos, Olten, Basel, Einsiedeln and Bellinzona.
When an infant is placed into a hatch,
the pressure of its body weight activates a heating pad. After three
minutes (giving the person time to leave unobserved) an alarm alerts
a member of staff who will take care of the child check its health.
The baby will then be placed in foster care within a few days.
The mother has 12 months to reclaim the
baby if she changes her mind, after which it will be put up for
adoption.
The organisation Swiss Aid for Mother
and Child (SAMC), a key driver behind the country's baby hatches,
says a total of 16 children have been left at the Swiss facilities
since the first was opened in Einsiede in 2001.
There are approximately 200 baby
hatches across Europe in countries including Austria, Germany,
Belgium and Italy. According to UN figures, more than 400 children
have been given up in this way since the year 2000.
I can't begin to comprehend the awful
circumstances that force a mother to give up her baby but this is
amazing – at least she knows that her baby will be looked after and
cared for and have the opportunity of a good life. I can imagine these
facilities are quite controversial – I know a similar one was
rejected in Amsterdam because of protests but it gets a huge thumbs
up from me. Well done Switzerland.
No comments:
Post a Comment