Depts reach out to OKU on the ground

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THERE YOU GO: Oliver teaching Laura how to use an apparatus.

LAWAS: The Welfare and Health departments carried out an outreach programme for the disabled (OKU) in the district yesterday.

District welfare officer Mohd Khairul Punggut accompanied by Lawas Hospital director Dr Noryatini Merali and physiotherapist Oliver Ted went to the ground to reach out to the OKU.

“This programme is part of our ongoing efforts to reach out to the OKU who cannot attend their appointments either to renew their OKU cards or to undergo medical examinations,” Mohd Khairul explained.

The outreach programme also enabled officers to identify those deserving to be given wheelchairs or other forms of assistance, he added.

The team visited Laura Jane Julis of Kampung Long Segaman of Jalan Lawas Damit who suffers from cerebral palsy.

According to her mother, Alam Dayuh, the family had difficulty bringing Laura to the clinic to get her registered as an OKU, because they had to use public transport. The family has no car.

During the visit, Dr Noryatini assessed Laura’s medical condition and she was given an OKU card.

Besides Laura, Mohd Khairul and his team visited two other children who are children of SK Agama Lawas headmaster Othman Adol.

They suffer from Muscular Dystrophy.

Othman has been patiently caring for his two children for more than 20 years.

One of them goes to school at SMK Lawas while the other does not go to school due to his poor health.

Mohd Khairul thanked Dr Noryatini and Oliver for joining him in the outreach programme and hoped for their continued support.