…sex.

We need to talk about sex with our children.

My morning routine at work starts with a cup of coffee. I switch on my laptop and the first thing I do is open up the news websites and read what’s new with my country and the world. Time after time we come across news clippings about baby dumping and how a dead baby was found in the gutter or a baby was found barely alive in some trash can. I cannot even begin to describe the sadness and heartbreak I feel every time I read these sort of news and I realise this is happening more frequently.

Number don’t lie

The Malay Mail reports that since 2016, 690 babies have been abandoned at birth in the country for the past six years.

Out of these 697 cases, there were 91 cases in 2010, 98 cases in 2011, 89 cases in 2012. The number of reported cases have been gradually growing, with 90 recorded in 2013, 103 in 2014, 111 in 2015 and 115 in 2016.

After digging a bit deeper. I found that out that half of those babies do not survive. 50-60% of them are found dead.

Baby hatches

What are baby hatches?

A baby hatch is a ‘facility for desperate mothers to have an option to leave their babies behind in a safe place, rather than locations where no one else can take quick action to save the babies’ lives‘. Reported by the Star, there are 8  KPJ hospitals and 3 OrphanCare centres that provide baby hatch facilities in Malaysia. Once a baby is placed inside, the alarm goes off immediately.

‘Of the 43 babies already saved through the programme, 38 have been adopted by couples who have been deemed credible by the courts, while the rest are in children’s homes run by the Welfare Department’.

But what about the babies that didn’t survive? How can society avoid that? By building more baby hatches?

No.

Root of the problem

The problem is the lack of sex education.

Taboo subject or not, everyone MUST talk about it with their children. Don’t be naive.

We can’t wait for the Ministry to start introducing comprehensive sex ed classes (that is if they do). It needs to start at home. Putting pictures of a sperm and the ovary in the science text book is not considered as sex ed class.

Almost absolutely everything can be learned  through  gadgets. Kids are growing up way too fast by seeing things online, and sometimes they imitate what they see without realising the consequences….and one of the consequences is getting pregnant through unprotected sex.

Children who cant even count days leading up to their period, believe or not, as young as 13 years old are the ones getting knocked up and throwing their babies away.

What’s religion got to do with it?

Don’t.be.shy

I hate it when people use religion as a reason NOT to talk about sex ed. The most ridiculous thing I’ve heard was ‘they’re religious so no way such thing can ever happen to them’.

Nonsense, people. Nonsense.

In reality, we are all humans, flawed beings. Mistakes happen, the least we can do is take precaution.

Whether you’re a Muslim, or a Christian or a Buddhist, or you don’t believe in anything that is under or beyond the sun, it is still necessary to talk about it.

We need to talk about this to our kids, guys. Whether it’s your siblings, your in laws, your niece your nephew or your own child, we need to talk. It’s the only way to teach and most importantly, teach them.

Click here to read up on Orphancare, an amazing organisation that takes care orf unwanted babies and provides guide to worried parents to be.

and click here if you have still have doubts as a Muslim talking about sex ed with your children.