KUCHING: Seven more professional therapists will be recruited next year to meet the needs of the Community Based Rehabilitation Centres (PDKs) in Sarawak following the State Cabinet’s approval yesterday.
Minister of Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said with the Cabinet’s approval, the state Community Development Department (JKMNS) would have a total of 16 therapists by next year.
“The intake is meant to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of basic rehabilitation services provided in all PDKs in Sarawak,” she told a press conference at Dewan Bahasa and Pustaka here yesterday.
There are only nine rehabilitation therapists serving 51 PDKs in Sarawak at the moment, benefiting 3,228 disabled persons.
“With the new intake, we can improve the ratio of one therapist for every five PDKs (one therapist to 359 PDK trainees) to one therapist for three PDKs (one to 202 PDK trainees),” she said.
The vacancies to be filled, she added, are for one degree holder (Grade U41) speech therapist, three diploma holders (Grade U29) physiotherapists, and three diploma holders (Grade U29) occupational therapists.
The state government has approved the recruitment of nine rehabilitation therapists in 2015 but the number is insufficient to meet the growing needs of PDKs.
“Placement is expected in April next year in the respective zones, with two in Southern Zone (Kuching, Serian, Samarahan and Sri Aman), two in Central Zone (Sibu, Sarikei, Mukah, Kapit and Betong) and three in Northern Zone (Miri, Limbang and Bintulu),” Fatimah said.
She added that the vacancies, together with academic requirements and terms of eligibility, would be advertised in Jan 2018.
“The recruitment process will take more or less three months,” she said.
PDK is a place that gives hope to the disabled people who can spend their time more meaningfully, productive and actively for a brighter future.
Assistant Minister of Community Well Being Datuk Francis Harden Hollis and JKMNS director Abang Shamsuddin Abang Seruji were also present at the press conference.