SINGAPORE: The BABES programme, launched just a week ago to help young women with unwanted pregnancies, is already seeing results.
14 teenage mothers-to-be have sent more than 200 SMSes to the BABES hotline for help.
"We have received 214 SMSes, 14 teenage mums-to-be have been in contact with us through SMS and we have been in contact with 3 of them and this is the early stage. We plan to contact all of them," said Eunice Olsen, BABES' spokeswoman.
BABES hopes to prevent unwanted babies from being abandoned.
"They don't know what to do with the baby because there's no one there to help them along the way and that's why they've been driven to desperate measures," said Ms Eunice Olsen.
As the programme's spokesperson, she hopes to change all that, and her message is simple.
"It's never the end of the world. We don't want babies to be abandoned, and the girls go to desparate measures. Now that you're pregnant, what's next? We want to help you make an informed decision, that there are alternatives to help make that decision."
BABES helps in providing shelter and other assistance.
Ms Eunice Olsen believes part of the responsibility lies with the community and people around the troubled mothers-to-be, to help them in any way possible.
BABES hotline is 8111-3535.
Meanwhile, the infant found dead in the rubbish chute at Block 45, Toa Payoh Lorong 5 on Sunday has been identified as a baby girl.
Police are still investigating the incident, before deciding whether to charge the mother.
She is in her 20s and is receiving treatment at the KK Womens' and Children's Hospital. - CNA
This seems to be creating a social prob now...
Too frequent of such cases