‘32 care centres in Sarawak under Section 6 of Care Centres Act 1993’
THERE are 32 care centres in Sarawak registered under Section 6 of the Care Centres Act 1993, of which 18 are for children, nine for the elderly and five for persons with disabilities (PwDs), said Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Deputy Minister II Mohamad Razi Sitam.
He said 12 of the children care centres are in Kuching, one in Sibu, three in Bintulu and two in Miri.
As for care centres for the elderly, six are in Kuching and one each in Samarahan, Sibu and Miri. On PwD centres, he said three are in Kuching, and one each in Sibu and Miri.
“The government through the Social Welfare Department is responsible to ensure all care centres are registered under the Act by providing the necessary guidelines and rules,” he said when responding to a question by See Chee How (PSB-Batu Lintang) at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) yesterday.
Mohamad Razi said the director of the department was empowered to enforce the Act, to monitor and inspect the centres under Section 7 of the Care Centres Act 1993.
The deputy minister added the department had launched a web-based care centre self-assessment system, named MyKendiri, to better facilitate the management and assessment of care centres.
“Through MyKendiri, the Social Welfare Department is able to monitor the registration and to ensure they have achieved certain minimum standards that are laid out in the Care Centres Act 1993 and Care Centre Regulations 1994.”
He also said registered care centres are eligible to apply for volunteer welfare organisations grant to assist them in conducting their activities, including training of care givers, and the state government had allocated RM3.4 million from 2017 to 2021 for the purpose.
Aside from the RM3.4 million allocation, Mohamad Razi said the state government had provided various financial assistance and incentives for non-governmental organisations looking after the welfare of the community.
He said the government had allocated a grant of RM50,000 for each of the 13 registered activity centres for the elderly for their operating expenses, as well as an annual grant of RM10,000 to RM40,000 each to 14 elderly service centres.
The government will also channel RM10.5 million this year to support the operation expenses of 55 rehabilitation centres for persons with disabilities (PwDs), he added.
“Moreover, the ministry provides continuous trainings to the workers and caretakers of such centres to maintain their competency level, as well as organising workshops for ministry staff to deliver quality service.”
Mohamad Razi said looking after the elderly and PwDs is part of the inclusive policy of the state government to improve their quality of life.