‘Babysitter’ screening system expected to be ready in March

KUALA LUMPUR: A comprehensive screening system to vet people working in the childcare industry may be ready in two months, says Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

“We are working on the system, expected to be ready in March.

“With it in place we hope to see a reduction in (unfortunate) incidents involving childcare when we know who are caring for our children,” the Deputy Prime Minister, who is also Women, Family and Community Development Minister, said after launching the Removing Obstacles to Cervical Screening (ROSE), the world’s first integrated, tech-driven cervical cancer screening programme.

Dr Wan Azizah said this in the wake of yet another child who had died after possibly being abused by the babysitter.

Nine-month-old Aariz Harraz Zahim Azman died at the Sibu Hospital in Sarawak on Sunday, after doctors declared him braindead a day before.

Her statement followed the previous announcement by her deputy Hannah Yeoh that the ministry was working hard to set up a screening system for people working in the childcare industry by this year.

Yesterday, Dr Wan Azizah reminded parents to conduct background checks on babysitters.

“As parents, we must be responsible and more selective in finding the right people to take care of our children,” she said.