Health Dept reaches out to private sector, NGOs to help stroke patients
KUCHING: The state Health Department is ever ready to work with the private sector and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to create more comprehensive community rehabilitation centres and programmes for stroke patients.
Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) neurologist Dr SimSiew Hung said providing rehabilitation-physiotherapy and occupational therapy (PTOT) for outpatients is one of the most challenging issues due to the increasing cases of stroke patients amid the lifestyle and modernisation faced by the society today.
“Most district hospitals such as those in Lundu, Serian, Bintulu, Miri and Limbang have their own PTOT unit, but the Health Department is looking to improve PTOT teams at all district hospitals in the state.
“Improving manpower and resources are among the issues that SGH is also working on,” Dr Sim told a press conference after the opening of the state-level World Stroke Day at the BatuKawah Health Clinic here yesterday by Assistant Minister of Public Health Datuk Dr JeripSusil.
Also present was state Health director Datu Dr ZulkifliJantan.
Dr Zulkifli agreed with Dr Sim, who is the event’s organising chairperson, on the need to have more rehabilitation centres to help stroke patients.
He said PTOT units were also available in all major heart centres in urban areas.
He suggested another option – establish sub-centres where the administration and management of patients’ rehabilitation activities could be carried out at home. The care providers for these patients, especially family members, need to be trained to conduct such therapy.
Dr Zulkifli noted that the Social Security Organisation (Socso) had introduced a programme relating to occupational rehabilitation to help patients undergoing physical and occupational therapy.
Socso will bear the cost of the therapy for members to aid their return to work.
“Due to the lack of centres, a large part of the therapy process would have to be home based. Stroke rehabilitation and management requires a lot of discipline.”
In his speech earlier, Dr Zulkifli said the main objective in holding the state-level World Stroke Day was to raise public awareness on stroke, prevention measures, immediate treatment and rehabilitation.
Public forum, interaction session, health education exhibition and video presentation filled up the day’s programme.
Source: Borneo Post Online
Published: 28 Oct 2013
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