Singapore again makes a tough decision

Singapore again makes a tough decision

By Salma Khalik

SINGAPORE: Either close all kindergartens, childcare centers,
playgroups and enrichment centers, and inconvenience the parents
of some 140,000 children, or risk seeing more 2 fall prey to a
viral infection.

With four deaths last month probably from hand, foot and mouth
disease, the safety of the children was paramount.

The closure of places where kids congregate would mean a loss
of business. Employers of working parents would also be affected
if the parents needed to take a week off work to tend to their
children.

But better that the government acts decisively than wait for
more children to succumb to the illness or, worse, die from it.

It is still too early to know if the four deaths were caused
by a strain of the hand, foot and mouth virus. Yet, over the
weekend, the government decided to close all care facilities for
children aged five and below. The order also covered wading
pools, play areas in fast-food restaurants and shopping
complexes.

This is the only way to break the transmission of the highly
contagious virus.

While hand, foot and mouth disease is usually a mild
infection, one particular virus in the family of over 80 is known
to be dangerous. This is the enterovirus 71 which killed over 70
children in Taiwan in 1998 and three in Malaysia in 1997.

There is no vaccine against the infection and there is no cure
for the disease. All doctors can do is to treat the symptoms.

Yet, over the weekend, hundreds of people called the task-
force hotlines to complain of the inconvenience to them as they
now have to look for alternative care arrangements for their
children.

Some felt that the government was over-reacting, as there have
been only four deaths. But four deaths is four too many.

Many still took their kids to swimming pools and play areas
over the weekend, despite warnings that the virus is spread
through close contact.

It makes one wonder how many children must die before these
parents regard the danger seriously.

Must the tragedy strike closer to home before they heed the
government's warnings? And how much do parents value the lives of
their children if they would prefer to put them in a childcare
center, where they might be at risk of contracting a potentially
deadly disease, than go through the bother of having to make
alternative arrangements?

Yes, the closures by the task force were announced at very
short notice. But if the inconvenience means that at least one
child can be saved, then it is surely worthwhile.

But the present situation should highlight just how family-
friendly firms here are. President S.R.Nathan has appealed to
companies to help employees who have difficulties finding
alternative care for their children.

Taking the lead, the Prime Minister's Office has called on all
ministries and departments to grant time-off or allow flexible
working arrangements for those who need them. Some private firms
are following suit. Will others do so too?

Indeed, firms would do well to emulate Singapore Airlines. It
already operates a childcare leave scheme, of up to 14 days a
year, for mothers who need to take time off to look after their
sick children who are under six years old. Staff are using this
allowance during the closure.

Many working parents will no doubt wonder why other firms
might not do likewise.

-- The Straits Times/Asia News Network