by Millet Enriquez     SINGAPORE - There is enough help available for distressed women with unwanted pregnancies in Singapore.   But awareness of these services needs to be drummed up to prevent cases of abandonment, say welfare officials.   A total of 14 cases of abandonment were recorded from 2006 to last year, according to the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS).   Officials say women in distress resort to abandoning their babies because they feel they are at a dead end.   The Sanctuary House is among the welfare groups that offer a haven for abandoned babies, as well as counselling, financial aid and shelter for women in distress.   Sanctuary House programme director Noel Tan said: "We have a nickname - the agency of last resort. A lot of the cases that come to us are really out of desperation. "   He said women who abandon their babies usually have no idea where to seek help or even what kind of assistance to seek.   An independent study by Beyond Social Services in 2005 showed an average of five babies were being abandoned in Singapore every year.   This has since gone down to around three per year, based on the latest MCYS figures from 2006 to 2010.   Still, welfare workers say the number of cases is a cause for concern.   Beyond Social Services' deputy executive director T Ranganayaki said: "When it comes to abandoned babies, it is really about creating an awareness of the availability of help - that if you are in trouble you have someone to turn to."   Of particular concern are teenage mothers. Being able to get help would ensure they do not resort to drastic measures when they deliver their babies without any support, said Ms Ranganayaki.   "If the education is tied to: 'Don't have sex', I'm not sure how effective that would be, because people follow their own moral compass. I would think that, if we raise awareness, that alone will help us reduce the number of abandoned babies in Singapore," she said.   Several welfare groups, in fact, operate hotlines and 24-hour SMS services for pregnancy crisis services.   Beyond Social Services' Babes Helpline receive around 200 SMSes from teenage girls facing pregnancy-related problems while the Pregnancy Crisis Centre of Family Life Society get 500 calls annually -- most of which are girls below the age of 19.   While many women usually seek help due to financial distress, some hesitate to do so because of shame. Some also worry about legal implications that may arise from the pregnancy, which could have resulted from sexual abuse, incest or statutory rape.   Ms Katherine Baptist, a social worker at Pregnancy Crisis Service, Family Life Society, said they take in all women, regardless of her faith and race. Many women, whose daughters are pregnant, say they are embarrassed because of the perceived stigma.   "I think it's important that we set a trusting, safe environment first and then we can follow up with the intervention work," said Ms Baptist.   Social workers at 24-hour hotlines counsel callers through the initial shock about their pregnancy.   Further face-to-face counselling services which involve family members are later arranged to assess the girl's situation. After which, the welfare organisation provides financial, legal and medical aid, as well as shelter, if needed.   Helplines   Sanctuary House: 9817-0588   Babes helpline: 8111-3535 (24-hr SMS)   Pregnancy Crisis Service: 6339-9770   Project Cherub: 6593-6492 (9am-6pm)   MUM-TO-BE: 1800-686-86-23   ComCare: 1800-222-0000           This article was featured in Today May 4, 2011. http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110504-0000401/Baby-abandonment-still...