Chi (third right) receives contributions from JCI Kuching president Thomas Teo, as others look on.
KUCHING: It is possible that there are many parents of children with cerebral palsy (CP), particularly those in the rural areas, who are unaware of therapies available to treat the condition.
For this reason, Kuching and Samarahan Divisions Cerebral Palsy Association (Wishesland) has teamed up with Junior Chambers International (JCI) Kuching to hold outreach programmes to raise awareness of CP and the types of services as well as counselling available for children with this disorder.
Wishesland president Chi Poh Yung said while the association had been taking care of children with CP here and in Samarahan, he noted that not many of them were from rural communities.
As such, he said the series of outreach programmes would kick off next year and they would include visits to rural families caring for children with CP, as well as activities like seminars and publication of news articles.
“Many people have heard of cerebral palsy, but not many know those diagnosed with this condition need to undergo therapies. Notwithstanding this, these individuals can go on to succeed in life – the best example is the nation’s paralaympian Mohamad Ridzuan Puzi, who won the gold medal and set a new world record in the recent Rio Paralympics,” he said in his opening remarks for the ‘World Cerebral Palsy Day’ at the Wishesland premises, Jalan Crookshank here.
Chi also disclosed that Wishesland would be eyeing to increase the number of physiotherapists from the present two to four next year.
This would serve to ensure smooth running of treatment programmes at the association’s Jalan Crookshank premises.
“This is due to the expected rising number of families sending their children for CP therapy sessions at the centre, which ideally should be conducted three hours daily,” he pointed out.
Chi also mentioned plans to purchase a van for transportation of children going for treatment, as well as the employment of a driver for this purpose, adding that the driver could also double as a gardener at the centre.
“We need to raise funds to realise this plan. In the meantime, we are looking for sponsors for the Wishes Garden – a ‘healing garden’ next to our building where there are 70 types of plants and trees that provide multi-sensory experience to children with CP,” he said.
Chi also said the Wishes Garden would have 25 sculptures as part of that multi-sensory experience slated for recovery of children with the disorder.
Meanwhile, a memorandum of understanding on the holding of awareness programmes related to CP was signed between Wishesland and JCI Kuching yesterday.
Sarawak General Hospital paediatrician Dr Khoo Chai Soon, as well as Wisheslands physiotherapists Linus Landei and Agnes Winnie, also gave their talks as part of activities during the World Cerebral Palsy Day at the centre.