KPWKM Studying Need To Place Permanent Child Specialists At Community Rehab Centres

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 19 (Bernama) -- The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry (KPWKM) is exploring various models to place specialists, either permanently or periodically, at Community-Based Rehabilitation Centres (PDK), to improve early intervention services for children with disabilities at the community level.

Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad said KPWKM is also considering a hybrid mechanism to encourage the placement of specialists through strategic partnerships with institutions of higher learning.

"For instance, they can provide training, partner with NGOs and corporations, and enhance inter-ministerial initiatives, but this approach relies on resource sharing among ministries and the community.

"For short-term measures, we encourage PDK committees to act as facilitators by inviting specialists to provide voluntary services. Regarding the immediate creation of permanent positions, this matter has not yet been finalised, as it involves considerations related to staffing and financial implications,” she told the Dewan Rakyat during the question-and-answer session.

She was replying to a supplementary question from Datuk Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff (PN-Rantau Panjang), who asked whether the ministry has plans to appoint permanent specialists, particularly speech therapists, at PDKs, similar to the practice in Singapore.

-- BERNAMA