The Fong Chong (Taipa) Nursery will cease operations at the end of the year following the death of a local baby girl there, who was found unresponsive and later died on October 19, while its remaining 70 kids will be transferred to other nurseries in the city, Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) Deputy Director Daniel Tang Iok Wa told reporters on Saturday.
“Fong Chong” means “residents”. The nursery is owned by the General Union of Neighbourhood Associations of Macau (UGAMM), colloquially known as “Kai Fong”, its informal Cantonese name.
Attending Saturday’s 54th Caritas Macau Charity Bazaar at the Nam Van Lake Nautical Centre, Tang also told reporters that the bureau will assist in dealing with the transfer, and that parents in need can request assistance from the bureau, adding that there are more than 300 places available in Taipa’s creches, which was “enough” to transfer all the children from the ill-fated nursery to other ones.
Tang pointed out that after the incident, other nurseries in Macau should improve their work in preventing and responding to emergencies, adding that the bureau welcomes nurseries to install indoor monitoring systems, and that nurseries can apply for the installation of CCTV cameras by getting the green light from the relevant authorities.
If the applications are approved, Tang noted, the bureau will coordinate the installation process with the nurseries concerned.
No police investigation report about the incident has been received, Tang noted.
The Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) said in a statement yesterday that parents can access the bureau’s Child Care Information Website (www.childcare.ias.gov.mo) about local nurseries’ enrolment situation.
According to the statement, the bureau will continue to follow up on the development of the incident, cooperate with the police in the investigation and take the necessary measures in response to the police investigation results.
This undated handout photo downloaded from the official website of the Fong Chong (Taipa) Nursery yesterday shows toddlers playing in the nursery.
