A second baby hatch has been opened at a hospital in Tokyo, providing a facility where parents who are unable to raise their newborns can leave them safely and anonymously in a designated space. The hospital has also launched a confidential birth program for mothers in difficult situations, IPN reports.

Newborns can now be placed in a hatch inside a quiet room with a discreet entrance at a hospital in Tokyo, The Japan Times writes.

The service will be available 24/7 and is intended as a last-resort emergency measure to save infants’ lives, said San-ikukai Hospital director Hitoshi Kato.

"There are still mothers and babies who have nowhere to go, and this 'hatch' will help prevent infants from being abandoned in lockers, parks, or beaches," the hospital stated in a press release.

Additionally, San-ikukai Hospital has introduced a confidential birth program to prevent risky home births among women in difficult situations, allowing them to give birth in a maternity ward with minimal disclosure of personal information.

At San-ikukai Hospital, once a baby is placed in the hatch, a motion sensor immediately alerts staff members, who rush to care for the child.

After ensuring the baby’s safety, the hospital will work with authorities to determine the best next steps, including foster care or placement in a children's home.

Japan’s first baby hatch was introduced at Jikei Hospital in 2007.

As of May 2024, nearly 179 babies have been left in the hatch at Jikei Hospital.

Source: www.ndtv.com