SIBU : The weight loss programme for special needs children has now become an important agenda in view of the Special Olympics to be held in Sarawak next year. Minister of Welfare, Community Well-Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said the effort of weight reducing among the athletics is important to ensure that they are healthy and have no health problems such as hypertension, diabetic, and heart problems.
“Dur ing one of our programmes, it has been found that among our athletics for the Special Olympics, 60 per cent of them are overweight.”
“Thus for our special needs children, especially those registered under the Special Olympics must participate in the programme,” she told a press conference after an annual general meeting held in Tanahmas Hotel here yesterday.
The Minister explained that the weight loss programme had been implemented by the Special Olympics Sarawak Sibu Chapter and proven to be effective when one out of 15 participants managed to lose 9kg during the 6- month programme.
“Through findings of our pediatricians, special needs children have the tendency to become overweight, thus our agenda must be implemented next year for every chapter,” she said. In Sarawak, there are three Special Olympics chapters – the Special Olympics Kuching Chapter, Special Olympics Sibu Chapter and Special Olympics Miri Chapter. Hence, Fatimah urged parents whose children are categorized as special needs children to monitor their children’s activities and nutrition so that they do not have weight problem or obesity. Apart from that, she also said membership drive is another main agenda for the Special Olympics next year. Currently, Special Olympics Sarawak has a total of 859 members, she informed.
“We want to see more special needs children from schools and Community-Based Rehabilitation Centres (PDK) become members of Special Olympics. “This will give them an opportunity to engage in sports activities at chapter-level, division-level, state-level and national-level. “For those with potential, they will have the opportunity to participate at international level. We have the winter games and summer games at world level, which our children can take part,” Fatimah explained.
She also said that Special Olympics Sarawak have identified events in 2018 which our athletics can participate next year.
Among the events are Special Olympics Borneo Cup in November 2018 (to be hosted by Special Olympics Miri); Special Olympics State Games in August 2018 (to be hosted by Special Olympics Kuching); National Games in Kuala Lumpur to be held from April 5-8, 2018; and the World Games in March 2019 in Abu Dhabi.
