BY FASIHA KHUSHIRI & IDA NADHIRAH
KUCHING: Parents in Sarawak are encouraged to send their special needs children to the One-Stop Early Intervention Center (OSEIC) Sarawak to ensure they receive appropriate treatment.
Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said the one-stop centre provided by the Sarawak government aims to ensure that special needs children in Sarawak receive early intervention as well as preparation for entering the school environment.
“We emphasise to parents from the B40 background compared to those who can afford to send their children to the private sector.
“In addition, for the M40, we are somewhat lenient, but the focus is more on the B40,” she said.
She made the remarks at a press conference during the OSEIC Sarawak Advisory Committee Meeting here yesterday.
She further explained that OSEIC is seen as capable of providing affordable facilities for special needs children while providing low and affordable fees for low-income groups.
Fatimah added, so far, two OSEICs have been operational in Kuching and Dalat, registering a total of 489 children as of March 31, 2024.
Fatimah emphasised that parents also need to show more commitment by accompanying their children during diagnosis sessions.
“Parents must be with their children during the intervention sessions, so when they return home, parents can continue what was done at OSEIC.
“Sending children here but not being present themselves would be a loss,” she said.
