To help curb baby dumping and reduce deaths among newborn babies, the KPJ Ipoh Specialist Hospital, KPJ-ISH, has set up the first hospital baby hatch in the country.

The centre was established to provide care for these unfortunate, unwanted babies, its chief executive officer Ahmad Nasirruddin Harun informed.

He said after launching the baby hatch, "KPJ-ISH feels it is its responsibility to set up this baby hatch and help innocent babies. We want to save and provide them protection.”

To allow those who do not want their babies to leave them there, the facility is open 24 hours a day to be cared by a team of skilled medical personnel and consultants.

The opening was officiated by State Industry, Investment, Entrepreneur Development, Tourism and Women's Affairs Committee chairman Datuk Hamidah Osman and KPJ-ISH medical director Datuk Dr Fadzli Cheah Abdullah was also present.

Importance on the identity of the mother or person who sends the baby to the centre was not placed by KPJ-ISH, Ahmad Nasirruddin.

Meanwhile, because the hatch would help tackle baby dumping in the state, Hamidah said the Perak government fully supported the hospital's effort.