Increasing awareness on animal-assisted and equine therapy

A MYRIAD of misconceptions and inadequate understanding are attached to equine therapy, owing to its lack of awareness.

Increase in research, advocacy from healthcare professionals and making affordability a priority are some initiatives that should be looked into, Perdana University School of Occupational Therapy dean Prof Nathan Vytialingam says.

Recognising the value in its therapeutic effect, Perdana University and Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) recently signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on research and to share expertise in the area.

During the signing ceremony, UPM vice-chancellor Prof Datin Paduka Dr Aini Ideris said its students will be attached to Perdana University’s hospital and vice versa once UPM’s hospital is up and running.

While the course is still in its preparatory stage, Perdana University School of Occupational Therapy lecturer Teo Yong Chang says their students are expected to learn aspects such as the value of hippotherapy as an adjunct to occupational therapy.

“They will also learn how to assess patients before using hippotherapy and come up with meaningful activities for patients who exhibit poor pelvic control, decreased gross motor skills and a diminished ability to process sensory information,” he adds.

The universities expect to start the programme by January 2019.

In addition, both varsities have teamed up with YOKUK and Green Apple Hippotherapy to form a Pet Therapy Research Cluster, designed to create awareness on the potential and healing powers of animals for human well-being.

YOKUK was founded 19 years ago on the simple belief that a community plays an essential role in assisting its specially abled residents.

“Patients come to our centre on a daily basis for therapy programmes, workshops, vocational classes or any other activities.

“For patients who come from poor families or live in impoverished rural areas who can’t afford to come to our centre, we will visit them at their homes. We teach their family how to take care of them and show them simple therapies they can do,” said Suliana Shamsuddin, Yayasan Orang Kurang Upaya Kelantan executive director.

Each team comprises a nurse and a physiotherapist who will help our patients and assist their family in managing a bed-ridden member at home, she adds.

Animals for Young founder Dr EJ Khew who has six years of experience within the field of animal-assisted therapy, opened his centre in August last year after his son was diagnosed with severe autism in March.

“My son was two-and-a-half; when I took him for a conventional form of therapy, I found its method very pushy and uninspiring. That’s when I decided to take matters into my own hands and turned to animals to help work on his disorder. Within three months, his condition went from severe to mild,” he shares.

He coined the name “Animals for Young” as a means of using animals to educate children and as a prime method for intervention.