KUALA LUMPUR: The OrphanCare Foundation (OrphanCare) has saved 639 newborns over its 16 years since its establishment in 2008.
This year marked the highest number of cases handled by OrphanCare, with 81 babies saved through the Baby Hatch initiative as of November, Sinar Harian reported.
OrphanCare Foundation Advocacy and Communications Manager Riza Alwi told the Malay daily that the number of babies saved this year had significantly increased compared to last year, when 55 cases were recorded.
"This year, the months of March, April, May, and July each recorded the highest number of babies saved, with 10 babies per month.
"This was followed by February with nine babies and August with seven," she said.
Riza said the 51 babies had been placed with suitable adoptive families.
"2024 has also seen a significant milestone, with no cases referred to the Social Welfare Department and no reported fatalities," she said.
She said the numbers indicate growing public awareness of the Baby Hatch's purpose, with more people inclined to save babies rather than abandon them.
The Baby Hatch is a specially designed space where mothers can leave their babies anonymously and safely.
It is equipped with sensors that alert staff when a baby is placed inside.
Rescued babies are then enrolled in either an adoption programme or a suitable care institution.
To date, more than 400 of the 639 babies have been adopted by families through legal processes, while 224 babies are being cared for by their biological mothers or families.
For the Baby Hatch initiative, 128 babies were left anonymously, with no information about their biological parents' identities, Riza said.
In March, Women, Family, and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri revealed that a total of 509 cases of baby dumping were reported between 2018 and February this year.