TEACHERS and medical staff are often the first to spot cases of child abuse.
Mr Benny Bong, 52, the president of The Society Against Family Violence, said schools and hospitals play a key role in raising the alarm.
He said: “Medical services and schools are the frontline, they see the injuries and are in contact with the children, so they can alert the authorities.”
Vigilance from these two sectors is vital because family members and friends may not report abuse for fear of damaging ties, he said.
He declined to give figures on the number of abuse cases brought to light by schools and hospitals, but said: “The bulk of cases I see come from schools... (rather) than hospitals.
“By the time the children are admitted to hospitals, their injuries are quite severe, so it is best if intervention happens in schools.”
While some critics feel third parties should not interfere in domestic matters, Mr Bong applauded the civic-mindedness of the agencies involved in this case.
He said neighbours could also be another key party to report child abuse, but this seldom happens because they don’t want to be seen as interfering.
Mr Bong stressed: “The community should applaud and not react negatively to those who make reports.”
He feels the community should also change their perspective of reporting abuse cases.
“It’s not about getting the parent into trouble, it’s about getting the perpetrator and the victim the help they need,” he said.
Mr Harry Low, a senior counsellor who worked at a Family Service Centre (FSC) for about seven years, also lauded the role of FSCs in highlighting abuse.
Of his FSC years, he said, most of child abuse cases were found in needy families.
Mr Low, who is now with the National University of Singapore, said: “Some families who are facing financial difficulties could have a lot of stress and may vent that stress on their children.”
While some families practise caning, there is a fine line between abuse and discipline.
He said that abuse is when the punishment affects the child’s self-esteem, among other things, he said.