AT FIRST glance, little Ben looked every inch a normal seven-week-old baby with curly hair and rosy cheeks.

But a day after his birth, he had chicken pox. Two weeks later, doctors found a foreign object in his brain but could not explain how it got there. And just last week, he was found to have a thyroid condition.

The infant, who was abandoned by his 14-year-old mother, is cared for by Sanctuary House, the only charity in Singapore that takes in unwanted babies like Ben, according to its programme director, Mr Noel Tan.

In just three months this year, it has accepted 12 babies – slightly over half the total number of 21 babies it took in last year.

The welfare organisation stressed that it is not encouraging promiscuity, but is instead focused on giving the abandoned children a better future.

Mr Tan, 39, said: “A lot of girls who find themselves in an unwanted pregnancy don’t come forward (to us). That is why we have cases of babies being dumped in lockers and rubbish chutes.”

Abandoning a baby, he said, is not only a serious offence, but a moral issue too.

“Instead of dumping them, come to us, because we will care for the babies and do anything to save them,” he said.

He added that one reason why young girls are not coming forward is because they fear their boyfriends would be taken to court for having sex with a minor.

Mr Tan has two full-time employees and about 30 volunteers who act as the babies’ foster parents.

The charity provides everything for the infants it looks after, from diapers to milk powder and prams. It even hands these items to the people who adopt the children.

“All I ask from the adoptive parents is to love the baby,” said Mr Tan.

The charity needs up to $350,000 a year to cover transportation and maintenance fees, hospital bills and materials for the babies.

Those who need help or wish to volunteer can contact Sanctuary House on 6221-0588 or 9817-0588.