In order to strengthen support for families with children and build a community childcare support network, the Social Welfare Bureau (IAS), in collaboration with four local associations, has jointly launched its “Childcare Centre Support Plan – Baby-Friendly Service Stations”.
The formal launch ceremony for the plan’s first service station was held on Friday at the Patane Municipal Market Complex.
In Chinese, these new facilities are referred to by the local government as “add oil stations” (ga yau zaam; 加油站), using the metaphor of a vehicle refueling station to describe how they provide emotional support to families with infants.
Utilising subsidised childcare centres as service bases, the first phase of the “Baby-Friendly Service Station” plan has established service points across six subsidised childcare centres in Macau, including Fu Lun Day Care Centre, Fu Lun First Day Care Centre, Fu Lun Little Dolphin Day Care Centre , Crèche Alegria das Crianças da Federação das Associações dos Operários de Macau (工聯童樂托兒所), Fai Chi Kei Nursery and Crèche “O Lago” da União Geral das Associações dos Moradores de Macau (澳門街坊會聯合總會湖畔托兒所), according to a IAS statement on Friday.
IAS Vice President Hoi Va Pou noted in a speech that the participating subsidised childcare centres will provide services structured around four key pillars to comprehensively support every step of the parenting journey: 1) “Baby Room Display Unit” to showcase how to create a safe and comfortable nursery environment at home.2) “Parent Academy” to provide practical training and workshops on childcare skills for parents.3) “Family Activities” to host events to foster parent-child interaction and strengthen family bonds. 4) “Community Outreach” to spread proper parenting concepts to the public through childcare consultation booths, open days, and street stations.
IAS Social Solidarity Department Chief U Ka Wai told reporters on the sidelines of the launch ceremony that the programme is free of charge and open to couples preparing for pregnancy, expectant mothers, and families with newborns, adding that the Social Welfare Bureau plans to add six more “add oil stations” next year, effectively doubling the total number to 12, with the aim of increasing childcare support hubs across the community, widen the reach of the services, and further meet the diverse childcare needs of parents throughout Macau.
The service stations are operated by four local organisations, covering the General Union of Neighbourhood Associations of Macau (UGAMM; aka Kai Fong), the Macau Federation of Trade Unions (FAOM; aka Gung Luen), the Women’s General Association of Macau (aka Fu Luen), and Caritas Macau, with the aim of bringing together highly experienced, professional childcare personnel to offer expert guidance and advice to parents, the IAS statement added.
According to official demographics, 2,870 live births were recorded in Macau last year, with males accounting for 51.0 percent. In 2020, Macau recorded 5,545 live births.
Wary of Macau’s birth rate—one of the lowest in the world—the local government has launched a raft of measures to stimulate population growth.
This handout photo provided by the Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) on Friday shows IAS Vice President Hoi Va Pou (centre) and other attendees posing for a group photo during the launch ceremony for the “Childcare Centre Support Plan – Baby-Friendly Service Station” at the Patane Municipal Market Complex (沙梨頭街市市政綜合大樓) earlier that day.
