KUCHING: There is a need to create more awareness of suicide and its prevention before it reaches a worrying level in Sarawak, Welfare, Women and Family Development Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah said.
“A forum in conjunction with World Suicide Prevention Day on Sept 5, which will be held in Sibu, is something new but timely in order to create awareness about the causes, trends and prevention of suicide.
“It will educate the public about where they can turn to for help. Nowadays there are even cases of youngsters killing themselves. This sort of trend must be curbed before it becomes something worrying,” she told a press conference at her office yesterday.
Also present were Segi University Sibu associate dean Prof Dr Mohd Raili Suhaili, Nursing College Sibu director Lee Na and Segi University Sibu manager Margareth Wong.
They paid a courtesy call on Fatimah to invite her to be the patron of next year’s International Conference on Maternal and Child Health.
The conference is conducted by the Sarawak Midwives Association and is expected to be held in March at Kingwood Hotel Sibu. A number of keynote addresses and papers will be presented. Registration fee is RM250 for members and RM300 for non-members.
On the conference, Fatimah encouraged those in the medical profession to attend it.
“Besides doctors and nurses, even those involved in social work should take part. This will ensure holistic services are delivered to the patients, particularly mothers and children,” she noted.
Another issue brought forward by the visiting group was the establishment of a workplace childcare centre for Sibu Hospital.
Fatimah advised them to consider various factors, particularly the location.
“Instead of building a new centre, try looking at existing buildings that can be renovated and converted into a childcare centre within the premises of the hospital. This is an important support system for the staff working at the hospital so it must be looked at thoroughly. Besides this proposed childcare centre, there are 11 others in the process of discussion and at various stages of development,” she said.
Existing workplace childcare centres in the state are located at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), Sibu Prison, Wisma Wanita, Yayasan Sarawak, Institut Kemahiran Belia Negara in Miri and Tun Datuk Patinggi Tuanku Haji Bujang Building at Jalan Simpang Tiga.