Health professionals recruited for Healthy Athletes Programme
BINTULU: Health staff are encouraged to contribute to improve the health of the disabled in the community.
Deputy state health director Dr Kamarudin Lajim said this at the opening of the Healthy Athletes Programme (HAP) at Bintulu Stadium on Friday.
According to him, the intellectually disabled are more susceptible to preventable diseases such as obesity, poor fitness, nutritional deficiency, untreated or poorly treated vision, poor dental health and podiatric problems.
“The State Health Department has been working closely with the community and non-government organisations to tackle this issue,” he said.
Sarawak Health Department is a partner of Special Olympics Sarawak since 2005 in delivering HAP in conjunction with the 4th Special Olympics Sarawak Games in Bintulu, supported by Bintulu Divisional Health Office, Bintulu Divisional Dental Office and Bintulu Hospital.
He said a strong team of health professionals was recruited to assist for the 3-day HAP with 45 staff from health departments in Bintulu (Bintulu Hospital, Bintulu Dental Clinic and Bintulu Health Clinic) comprising specialists, dentists, medical officers, therapists, nurses, assistant medical officers, optometrists, nutritionists and dietitians.
He said professionals such as paediatrician Dr Toh Teck Hock, dietitian Koa Ai Ling, paediatric dentist Dr Lorend Telajan and ophthalmologist Dr Chieng Le Ling from the government had committed time and resources in providing community services.
“We also have private doctors working hand-in-hand with the government team such as Healthy Hearing led by Dr Doris Jong, and Fit Feet led by associate professor Dr Wong Chya Wei who is an orthopaedic surgeon from KPJ Sibu Specialist Medical Centre.”
He said many of the trainers had been with the HAP for more than a decade.
“They provide not only HAP service but training. Over the last decade, hundreds of health professionals in Sarawak were trained in HAP by these professionals doing routine work in hospitals and clinics.
“We have core teams established in major centres in Sarawak namely Kuching, Sibu and Miri and now Bintulu,” he said.
He encouraged health professionals to volunteer to work in caring for the disabled.
The volunteers can provide crisis-oriented care, focussing on the ability rather than disability of the disabled athlete in order to improve their health, enhance their well-being, quality of life and performance in sports via health screening, and provide them and their families with the knowledge and skills in their care.
“Always treat them with dignity, let them enjoy their rights in the community which they deserve like you and me, including healthcare,” he pointed out.
He said many recent Sukma Paralympians from Sarawak excelled and brought glory to the country because of the opportunity given to them to achieve.
“There may be many more talented disabled people to be discovered, and some may be attending the state games.”
He said commitment of the health staff could serve as a role model to young medical students and inspire future doctors.
“There may not be any monetary reward for the health professionals but it is heartwarming to observe the smiles of the athletes satisfied with the HAP provided,” he said.
Director of HAP Associate Professor Dr Toh Teck Hock, who is also the paediatrician and head of Clinical Research Centre of Sibu Hospital said people with intellectual and developmental disabilities had a 40 per cent greater risk of getting preventable secondary health conditions.
Thus HAP aims to help Special Olympics athletes improve their health and fitness to better their quality of life and performance in sports.
“Athletes can receive a variety of free health assessments and services in a welcoming and fun environment.
“Healthcare professionals who participate in this programme can learn about the health needs of Special Olympics athletes to get knowledge and confidence in volunteering to care for these individuals,” he pointed out.
HAP was conducted since 2005 in Kuching (twice), Sibu (four times), Miri (twice), Kota Samaharan (once), and for the first time in Sibu this year.