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