31,000 persons with disabilities registered with ministry — Fatimah

SIBU: Some 31,000 persons with disabilities (OKUs) are registered with Welfare, Women and Family Development Ministry.

Its minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah said the cumulative figure covered those with physical, sight, hearing disabilities and intellectual disability.

“To us, health is among the key areas that we stress on. In fact, it is in our strategic thrust under the ministry’s Women and Family Department.

“Compared with other countries in the region, we are occupying a high position from the aspect of obesity rate among the people.

“Obesity can lead to many health-related problems, which also affects children with special needs.

“A concerted effort is needed to fight the problem of obesity among children with special needs,” Fatimah, who is president of Special Olympics Sarawak, told reporters on Sunday.

Earlier, she officiated at the Special Olympics Healthy Project – Family Health Forum at Agape Centre here.

The forum focused on the special athletes’ families, gathering them together with doctors and nutritionists, who helped impart useful information on how to help children with special needs live a healthier life.

Fatimah also mentioned that those with intellectual disability would find it quite challenging to listen to talks or briefings for them, and this was where parents could come in to assist.

Fatimah further disclosed there were 44 community-based rehabilitation centres ( PDK) in Sarawak apart from other associations focusing on the disabled.

“Under Special Olympics, we have healthy athletes programme. It is quite challenging for parents to bring their children to clinics especially those from rural areas.

“In Sibu, Agape has various facilities under one roof to provide health screening and rehabilitation.”

According to Fatimah, ‘ My Sihat’ programme by the Health Department helps children with special needs in physical activities such as rope skipping.

Touching on the forum, she said it was very beneficial as it taught parents how to better care for their children, including food intake.

She was also pleased with the good turnout at the forum.

Still on health, she disclosed that during the state- level Women’s Day celebration in Kuching, ‘ Walk of Love’ programme themed ‘ Sihat, Selamat dan Sejahtera’ would be launched.

She said they targeted a crowd of about 15,000.

At the district level, she said the government agreed to allocate RM5,000 per district to hold the Women’s Day celebration.

Meanwhile, Association for Children with Special Needs Sibu secretary Dr Toh Teck Hock told a press conference that one important aspect was getting the involvement of doctors and dieticians in the future.

“We have to start exposing people from young to learn about people with intellectual disability,” he said.

Special Olympics Sibu Chapter chairman Jason Tai said this time around they tried to promote healthy lifestyle among the athletes and their families.

“Getting their parents is just as important as the athletes themselves,” Tai said.

According to the press release handed to reporters, ‘ healthy community’ is actually an extended programme under the Healthy Athletes programme which had benefitted all Special Olympics athletes.

By organising the Family Health Forum through sponsorship by Special Olympics International, Special Olympics Sibu Chapter hoped to educate families on the wellbeing of those with intellectual disability and help raise awareness of health issues faced by them.

Through the forum, parents and caregivers could gain direct access to health information, resources and support.

Separately, in the Special Olympics World Summer Games held in Los Angeles, United States from July 25 to Aug 2, Toh Hong Hui from Sibu grabbed a gold medal for bowling (double), silver ( single) and bronze (team).

Clanrence Mika from Miri won gold in aquatic 50 metres.

Sharifah Saidatul Nuramira Awangku Malik from Kuching won the silver medal in the 800metre race and bronze in 1,500 metres.

Nur Nadhirah Syambul also from Kuching got bronze for the 200-metre race.