Health Ministry to set up creches in hospitals - Dr Dzulkefly

PUTRAJAYA, July 6 (Bernama) -- The Health Ministry plans to set up creches specially for babies in all hospitals under it at the latest by early next year.

Its minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said planning for the creches which would care for babies six months and younger was being worked out before it is tabled at the next Cabinet meeting.

"We will discuss matters relating to infrastructure, finance and costs so that the proposal can be speeded up, if possible before the end of this year.

"The creches are specifically for babies only...they are not nurseries," he said in a press conference held after attending the Aidilfitri celebrations at the Putrajaya Hospital here today.

Dr Dzulkefly said these creches would operate around the clock as many of the civil servants in hospitals or agencies under the ministry worked shift hours.

He added that the creche in the Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital (HTTA) in Kuantan, Pahang would operate 24 hours and be a model for other hospitals.

Dr Dzulkefly said he hoped the creches would be quickly set up, following the recent tragedy of five-month-old baby Adam Rayqal Mohd Sufi Naef who died in his babysitter's house recently.

To date, other than HTTA, 35 of the ministry's departments and agencies have creches and nurseries.

Dr Dzulkefly also welcomed plans by the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development to set up childcare centres in all agencies under it by early next year.

He said the two ministries were of the same mind to set up childcare centres to help their staff who are parents.

-- BERNAMA