Treat abandoned kids with kid gloves

In some cases, abandoned children have serious birth defects, and parents are unable to care for them because of the high medical costs involved. An estimated 900,000 children are born with a congenital anomaly in China every year, and government officials say that baby hatches are needed because many of the abandoned children have disabilities and need immediate medical attention.

Although China has in place a birth-defect monitoring system, and prenatal care and neonatal disease screening programs, they are not uniformly used throughout the country. And since pre-marital medical check-up is no longer mandatory, the percentage of people undergoing it fell from 80 percent in 2008 to 41 percent in 2011 despite being provided free of cost in many cases. So couples take fewer precautions against the possibility of having babies with birth defects.

Although it is not possible to totally eliminate the possibility of birth defects since many of them are due to genetic causes, women can take a series of precautions to lower the chances of having them. For example, they should lead a healthy and active life before becoming pregnant.

Also, if a woman has enough folic acid, which is water-soluble vitamin B9, in her body at least one month before and during pregnancy, it can help prevent major birth defects in her child. Women should also avoid alcohol during pregnancy because it passes on to the baby through the umbilical cord. Pregnant women should not smoke either and avoid using "street" drugs. Besides, they should tell their doctors about all the medication they are taking, and take precautions against infections, maintain a healthy weight, keep diabetes under control and have all the required vaccinations.

Some experts believe the number of abandoned children has increased in China because of deficiencies in its welfare system, particularly for children born with illnesses or disabilities. These experts say the government should have a unified and responsive welfare system which can meet the needs of the entire population.

There should also be a national insurance program to cover children born with birth defects and hereditary conditions, which can prevent mothers from abandoning their children for want of enough money.

In addition, the government could consider relaxing the terms for adopting children, particularly those that are physically challenged. By adopting a wide range of measures for the protection of abandoned children, the government could better address what could quickly become a serious problem.

The author is an international medical consultant and co-winner of an Overseas Press Club of America award.