XN000022-1978-10-17 — Page 7

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1978

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THE NEW CENTRE IS THE RESULT OF AN APPEAL MADE BY THE DEPARTMENT LAST YEAR TO VOLUNTARY AGENCIES TO SET UP THREE DAY OR RESIDENTIAL CENTRES PROVIDING BASIC CARE AND SIMPLE TRAINING ON AN EXPERIMENTAL BASIS FOR SEVERELY MENTALLY RETARDED CHILDREN.

MR. LEE POINTED OUT THAT WHILE FEW SEVERELY MENTALLY RETARDED CHILDREN WERE EXPECTED TO LIVE TO THEIR TEENS ABOUT A DECADE AGO, SOME OF THEM WERE NOW IN THEIR LATE TEENS OR EARLY 20S DUE TO BETTER CARE AND IMPROVED TREATMENT FACILITIES.

HE SAID THE MODERN CONCEPT OF THE CARE OF THESE CHILDREN WAS THAT THE MAJORITY DID NOT REALLY NEED LONG-TERM MEDICAL CARE IN HOSPITALS.

+APART FROM A SMALL MINORITY WHO WOULD NEED MEDICAL TREATMENT AND NURSING CARE, WHAT MOST OF THEM NEED IS ADEQUATE CARE, EITHER IN A DAY OR RESIDENTIAL ENVIRONMENT, AND TRAINING WHICH WILL HELP THEM DEVELOP THE IR POTENTIAL ABILITY, HE SAID.

MR. LEE SAID THE MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION HAD BEEN DEDICATED IN THE MENTAL WELFARE FIELD FOR MANY YEARS, AND HE PRAISED THE ASSOCIATION'S OFFICIALS FOR SETTING UP THE NEW CENTRE.

THE CENTRE, COVERING AN AREA OF 14,000 SQ. FT., COMPRISES ADMINISTRATION, ACTIVITY AND DORMITORY BLOCKS RENDERING SERVICES TO 50 RESIDENTIAL AND 50 DAY TRAINEES AGED FROM SIX TO 16 YEARS.

MR. LEE NOTED THAT THE CENTRE, WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF DEVELOPING THE POTENTIALS OF THE MENTALLY RETARDED THROUGH DIRECT SERVICE AND CO-ORDINATION WITH THE FAMILY, ALSO PUTS EQUAL EMPHASIS ON THE CO-OPERATION OF THE FAMILY.

+1 AM GLAD TO LEARN THAT RESIDENTIAL TRAINEES ARE ENCOURAGED TO RETURN HOME DURING WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS AND THAT STAFF AND PARENTS KEEP CLOSE CONTACTS THROUGH THE IR REGULAR MEETINGS, HE SAID.

THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMME, HE SAID, CHILDREN IN THE CENTRE ARE HELPED TO ACQUIRE SELF-CARE SKILLS, THE WAY TO COMMUNICATE AND GET ALONG WITH OTHERS AS WELL AS TECHNIQUES THAT MEET THE IR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS.

ON TOP OF MOTOR CO-ORDINATION, SOCIALISATION AND CLASSROOM TRAINING, OUTDOOR AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES ARE INCLUDED AS PART OF THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR THE CHILDREN, HE SAID.

+ESPECIALLY WITH ACCOMMODATION FOR 50 RESIDENTIAL TRAINEES, NURSING SERVICE IS PROVIDED ROUND THE CLOCK.

+WEEKLY VISITS BY A MEDICAL OFFICER AND A PSYCHIATRIST ENSURE THE GENERAL AND SPECIALISED MEDICAL SERVICE TO THE CHILDREN. WHEN AN EMERGENCY ARISES, IMMEDIATE TREATMENT WILL BE RENDERED AT NEARBY GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS OR CLINICS,+ HE ADDED.

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