Lee: OKU facilities, services can be improved through community-based rehabilitation

Lee (back row, fourth left), Yii (on Lee's left) and others in a group photo at the Miri PDK Open Day 2022 programme on Oct 15, 2022. Photo: Ukas

MIRI, Oct 17: Sarawak Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin has called for improvement in facilities and services for people with special needs (OKU) through community-based rehabilitation (PDK).

According to a report by Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas), PDK was created as a strategy to strengthen local community development for rehabilitation, training, education, equalisation of opportunities and social integration of the OKU.

“Through PDK, the integrated efforts of the OKU, family and community in health, education, vocational and social services can be implemented together.

“We need to improve our services for the OKU children so that they get to learn certain skills or they get physiotherapy treatment and so on,” he said when officiating at the closing ceremony of the Miri-level PDK Open Day 2022 at the Miri City Council (MCC) compound here on Saturday (Oct 15).

Lee who is also the Senadin assemblyman further hoped the Sarawak Social Welfare Department (JKMS) can hold professional courses for all PDK trainers.

He also encouraged contributions from elected representatives, members of the public, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and corporate bodies which are necessary to support the development of OKU, especially those in Miri District.

The PDK Open Day aimed to promote PDK programmes among the local community, deliver OKU services to the targeted group and establish bonds of friendship or cooperation between parents and the community.

Also present were Miri Mayor Adam Yii Siew Sang and Miri PDK Programme chairwoman Hasima Hamdan. — DayakDaily