SOHAP helps athletes with intellectual disabilities
KUCHING: Athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities have 40 per cent more risk of preventable secondary health conditions such as obesity, poor fitness, nutritional deficits, untreated or poorly treated vision, dental, hearing and podiatric problems.
To help these athletes in Sarawak, a Special Olympics Healthy Athletes Programme ( SOHAP) was implemented by a group of medical volunteers, led by Sibu-based pediatrician Prof Dr Toh Teck Hock in 2006.
The programme was designed to help the “special” Olympic athletes improve their health and fitness, leading to enhanced well-being, quality of life and performance in sports.
The fifth SOHAP with seven components – MedFest, Healthy Promotion, Opening Eyes, Special Smiles, FUNfitness, Healthy Hearing and Fit Feet – was conducted at the Special Olympic State Games held at University Malaysia Sarawak ( Unimas) Stadium from Aug 17 to 19 this year.
Heading the programme was Special Olympics Asia Pacific, Regional Clinical advisor Prof Dr Toh who was in charge of MedFest.
He was assisted by Clinical Directors Dr Chieng Lee Ling ( Opening Eyes), Dr Ong Cheng Ai ( Healthy Hearing), Dr Lorend Telajan Achol ( Special Smiles), Catherine Wong Pick Yieng (FUNFitness), Koa Ai Ling (Health Promotion), and Assoc Prof Dr Wong Chya Wei (Fit Feet).
Assistant trainers involved were Dr Suzalinna Sulaiman ( Health Promotion), Ling Sui Hui (FUNFitness) and Dr Su Mee Ing (Fit Feet).
They were supported by other volunteers, including 40 medical students and five lecturers from SEGI University Sibu Clinical Campus, 20 Leo Lions, individuals and health professionals. “Special Olympics is a programme for people
with intellectual disabilities who take part in sports, and Healthy Athletes Programme is where a group of doctors, nurses, dentists, therapists and dietitians provide health screenings to detect if they have any medical problems that need medical attention,” said Dr Toh who is also Special Olympics Malaysia Clinical Director.
“We also give them advice and education on the spot, share with them what are the correct foods to eat, how to wear proper shoes and keep proper hand hygiene.
“The problems that we pick up – for example if they have eyesight, hearing or dental problems needing medical attention, then we will make a referral for them and advise them to seek help from the professionals.
“At the same time, we’re using this opportunity to train our health personnel on who are the people with intellectual disabilities and what are their needs,” he added. 220 registered According to him, 220 athletes were registered for the fi fth SOHAP.
“Looking at our findings over three days, 6.5 per cent of the athletes screened for Fit Feet needed treatment as they had either feet infection or some severe abnormalities that required podiatric intervention, six had hypertension although they were already screened before the Games.
“It was quite alarming because these were the people who were late teenagers. Ten per cent were obese and 15 per cent were overweight.
“If their lifestyles don’t change and their families don’t take it seriously, more health problems like obesity, diabetes, joints problem and osteoporosis will come in. Once they have a fracture, they will become immobile, suffer pain and become less active and more obese.”
For Healthy Hearing, he said 46 per cent had suspected hearing loss while five per cent had severe wax impact.
“Of those screened under Special Smiles, 25 per cent had gum disease and dental caries that required treatment, while under Opening Eyes, 20 per cent of the athletes screened needed glasses or new glasses.”
Dr Toh said from SOHAP, they were accumulating valuable data to compare with other countries, adding that it would be very helpful to government in making policy changes to help the needy. First SOHAP The first SOHAP was conducted in Sibu in 2006, followed by first Sarawak State Games in 2007 in Kuching.
In every State Games, the team was brought in for the screening whi le in between the State Games, screenings were done independently in Miri and Sibu.
“I think we had done quite well in the three- day programme. Although all of us were tired, we found it enjoyable and fulfilling,” Dr Toh said.
He also advised athletes given referrals to follow up on their health issues.
“We need the whole society to be aware of the problems and challenges they face but then, it’s not the family’s or doctor’s job to help them as it is really everybody’s job.”
Dr Toh also thanked the then Sarawak State Health Director, Dr Jamilah Hashim, and Deputy Directors of Sarawak State Health Department, Sarawak General Hospital Director, Dr Chin Zin Hing, Divisional Health Offices and Dental Offices of Kuching and Samarahan and all those contributors who helped make SOHAP a success.
The sponsors included Essilor Malaysia Sdn Bhd, H &A Medical Supply Sdn Bhd, Glaxo Smith Kline Consumer Healthcare, MOMawater Sdn Bhd, MediLife Healthcare Supplies, ColgatePalmolive Malaysia, Clinical Research Centre of Sibu General Hospital and Special Olympics International.
At the same time, we’re using this opportunity to train our health personnel on who are the people with intellectual disabilities and what are their needs. Prof Dr Toh Teck Hock, Special Olympics Asia Pacific, Regional Clinical advisor