Services provided by the various ministries and

inter-ministerial collaboration

Ministry of Health
Ministry of Women, Family and Community
Development
• abbreviated MoH, is a ministry of the Government of Malaysia responsible for
social welfare: children, women, family, community, children, older people,
destitute, homeless, disaster victim, disabled
• The ministry determines the policies and direction to achieve the goals of gender
equality, family development and a caring society in line with Malaysia's
commitment towards the United Nations' Convention on the Elimination of All
Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Beijing Declaration.

• As of 21 May 2018, the ministry is headed by the Minister, Rina Harun

 Introduction
• Children with `special needs’ are specified groups of children with some form of handicap

• The World Health Organisation (WHO) has defined a handicapped person as ‘one who over an
appreciable period of time is prevented by physical or mental conditions from full participation in normal
activities

• A handicap can be roughly divided into three categories : mental handicaps, physical handicaps and
medical disabilities

• The Oral Health Division, Ministry of Health, Malaysia has recognised this group as one of the priority
groups

• In early 1993, the Division launched the ‘Oral healthcare programme for special children’ with special
emphasis given to this disadvantaged group (the handicapped and the medically-compromised) at
outpatient level

• This group has been shown to have a high prevalence of oral diseases and unmet treatment needs.
Currently the management of this group of children is hampered by poor coverage, lack of trained
dental personnel and public awareness. There is thus a need to develop standardised guidelines with
the aim of strengthening the programme
 Background
• A special programme has been implemented to cater for the oral health needs of these children in institutions as well
as in ordinary schools since the 1980’s.

• Lack of awareness and insufficient information, social stigma faced by the family members and financial constraints to
poor access and lack of availability of nearby healthcare facilities, seeking routine oral healthcare is secondary to the
management of the main disability of the child. Constraints faced by the services included physical environments not
being patient friendly and ill equipped to cater to the needs of these special children

• As a result, the oral health needs of most of these children have been left untreated. To address these issues, children
with special needs were formally recognised as one of the priority groups for oral health care with the official launch of
the Oral Healthcare programme for children with special needs in February 1993.This is to ensure that the desired oral
health status is achieved through oral health promotion, clinical preventive measures and the necessary treatment
required.

• Children with special needs are treated on an ad-hoc basis when mobile dental teams make visits to these places.

• Children with special needs are also referred by Dental Nurses and Dental Officers to Paediatric Dental Specialists
based in hospitals.The first Paediatric Dental Specialist Unit was established in Kuala Lumpur Hospital in 1992.
Subsequently, such units were also set up in other states on a staggered basis. These units serve as referral centres
for secondary and tertiary care where such children are given comprehensive dental treatment.
 Objective

To improve oral health of children with special needs that will contribute to an enhancement of
their quality of life

• To inculcate good oral health practices for maintenance of oral health throughout their lives

• To increase the awareness of the carers /minders and dental personnel on oral health care
for children with special needs.
• To improve the skills of dental personnel in the management of children with special needs.

• To improve oral health status of children with special needs

 Barriers
Barriers to oral healthcare identified include the following:

• Inadequate public awareness of the need for dental care for these children

• Poor accessibility to dental care due to ignorance or difficulty in obtaining care

• Financial problems – many children are from socially-deprived families and not able to afford
treatment or expenses incurred to obtain treatment (e.g. transport)

• Poor communication – many of these children are unable to convey their dental needs
adequately. Treatment is only sought when there are obvious signs e.g. swellings

• Associated medical problems - many of these children have associated medical problems, which
can complicate their dental management

• Lack of training and understanding among dental personnel

 Strategies
This guideline paves the way for a more organised oral health service for children with special
needs. The initial phase of the programme should emphasise on prevention. The curative
component should subsequently be gradually increased in terms of types and complexity of care.
The programme for children with special needs requires close cooperation and collaboration
from:

• Dental personnel
• Parents or guardian
• Institutional personnel
• Health personnel
• Related government agencies
 Strategies

1. Providing preventive and curative care The initial phase of the programme would be oriented towards
prevention. Curative procedures would gradually be introduced in terms of types and complexity of
care by providing comprehensive oral healthcare to children with special needs

2. Creating oral health awareness among carers and minders

3. Training oral personnel on the management of children with special needs

4. Integrating service with other healthcare personnel to ensure that oral healthcare is included in the
overall health programme

5. Collaborating with other agencies eg. Education Department, Welfare Department, and NGO’s

6. Improving coverage by overcoming barriers to care

7. Monitoring and evaluating the programme on a regular basis

 Operational Strategies

Strengthening and intensifying oral health promotion

1 - Incorporate oral health messages and services
- Organize oral health campaigns at institutions and schools
- Introduce oral health care aids specific to disability

- comprising dental officer

2 Establishing a dedicated team - dental nurses
- dental surgery assistants

- conduct dental education

Providing specific training to the oral
- conduct seminars or workshops on
3 health personnel involved in the care
oral skills
of children with special needs
- provide training to ensure effective
consultation
 Operational Strategies

Providing where possible, comprehensive oral healthcare to children with special

4 needs
- Identity population
- Obtain data from health office, education department, welfare department and
institutions
- Screen students to assess treatment needs
- Provide treatment

- Disseminate information on dental diseases

Collaborating with other healthcare
5 personnel to ensure effective
multidisciplinary management
and treatment options
- Emphasise the importance of early referral
for preventive oral health counselling and
timely intervention
- Establish combined multidisciplinary clinics
 Operational Strategies

Set up temporary clinics

Importance coverage by
6
overcoming barriers to care
Provide preferential treatment for
children with special needs at
outpatient clinics

- Record data on screening and treatment

Monitoring and evaluation of - Record daily and monthly
7 programme on a regular basis - Evaluate effectiveness of programme using
health outcome research studies
 Conclusion

A standardised and a more organised

Children with special
approach to oral healthcare for this group
needs require a greater
of children is needed to ensure a more
degree of care and
accessible, equitable and technologically-
attention than normal
appropriate provision of care in
children
accordance with the National Health Policy
• abbreviated KPWKM, is a ministry of the Government of Malaysia responsible
for social welfare: children, women, family, community, children, older people,
destitute, homeless, disaster victim, disabled
• The ministry determines the policies and direction to achieve the goals of gender
equality, family development and a caring society in line with Malaysia's
commitment towards the United Nations' Convention on the Elimination of All
Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Beijing Declaration.
• As of 21 May 2018, the ministry is headed by the Minister, Rina Harun
 Background

• KPWKM was officially established on 17 January 2001 as the Ministry of Women's Affairs
with Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil acting as the first cabinet-level Minister to solely focus
on the development of women. The scope of the Ministry was widened to include family
development and the name was changed to the Ministry of Women and Family
Development on 15 February 2001. In 2004, the scope was further widened to include social
welfare and development and the Ministry adopted its current name on 27 March 2004

• Following the 14th General Elections, the Deputy Prime Minister, YAB Datuk Seri Wan
Azizah Wan Ismail (PKR), was appointed Minister of Women, Family and Community
Development on May 21, 2018. She succeeds YB Dato Sri Rohani Abdul Karim (PBB).
 Background
Malaysia is fully committed in improving the welfare and development of its disabled
population. This is evident in the signing of the Proclamation on Full Participation and Equal
Opportunities for People with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific region on 16 May 1994; and
the ratification of the Convention of the Rights of the Child. The government has also
endorsed the "Biwako Millennium Framework for Action Towards an Inclusive, Barrier-free
and Rights-based Society for PWDs in Asia and the Pacific" to enable them to enjoy equal
opportunities and to participate in the mainstream development of the country. The national
Advisory and Consultative Council for People with Disabilities was established to coordinate
the implementation of this framework.
 Department and Agencies: KPWKM

• Department for Women's Development (Jabatan Pembangunan Wanita)

• Social Welfare Department (Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat)

• National Population and Family Development Board (Lembaga Penduduk dan

Pembangunan Keluarga Negara)

• Social Institute of Malaysia (Institut Sosial Malaysia)

• Counsellors Board (Lembaga Kaunselor)
 Introduction
• The Social Welfare Department Malaysia (JKMM) was established in
1946
• Roles and functions have expanded to preventive and rehabilitative
services in social issues and the development of the community
• One of this department’s target group is people with disabilities,
therefore this department (social welfare) conducted various
programmes, activities and rehabilitations especially for disabled
people
 Rehabilitation of People With Disabilities

Objective
The objectives of the rehabilitation services for People
with Disabilities (PWDs) are to assist PWDs to be self-
reliant and to achieve their full potential.
 Services Provided for People With Disabilities

1 2 3 4

Registration Artificial Aids Launching Grants Disabled Workers

and Assistive Allowance
Devices

5 6 7 8

Work Placement Institutional Community Group Homes

Training and Based-
Medical Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation Programmes
 Types of Rehabilitation

There are different types of rehabilitation available for different types of disabilities listed below:

1. Neurological rehabilitation
2. Cardiac Rehabilitation
3. Drug rehabilitation
4. Alcohol rehabilitation
5. Physical rehabilitation
6. Medical rehabilitation
7. Vocational rehabilitation
8. Vestibular rehabilitation
9. Stroke Rehabilitation
 Types of Rehabilitation
Alcohol rehabilitation
Program is designed to make an
alcoholic free from the addiction
• It involves programs that will teach
people the various bad effects of
consuming excess alcohol
• Effective detox programs that will
cleanse the body from the various
toxins of alcohol
Neurological rehabilitation
• In this type of rehabilitation, patients suffering
from stroke, neuromuscular disease, certain
types of head trauma and spinal cord injury
are treated
• It aims at making the patient self-dependent. It
helps create a positive thinking in patient
• The patient is treated so that he leads a
improved life physically, emotionally, and
socially
 Types of Rehabilitation
Cardiac Rehabilitation
• Program is designed to help those people who
have heart problem. Heart patients are educated
to live a healthy life and reduce stress for the
proper functioning of the heart
• It aims at educating people about the various risk
factors that contribute to developing a heart
disease. These risk factors include, high blood
pressure, obesity, smoking, drinking, drug abuse,
lack of physical activity, etc
• Recovery programs from heart disease/surgery.
Educating people about improving their quality of
life
Physical Rehabilitation
• It is for those people whose lifestyle has changed
after they have gone through a serious illness,
surgery, accident or illness
• Here the therapist introduces programs to improve
the mobility and functioning of the injured body
part of the patient
• Proper exercising program is designed to improve
the functioning often physical body. It includes
therapies that will help a patient re-learn the basic
physical and cognitive functioning
 Types of Rehabilitation
Medical rehabilitation
• It includes treatment programs that help a
person perform better in all his daily physical
and mental activities.
• Medical rehabilitation is a follow up treatment
after any kind of treatment program.
• Programs focus on improving major and minor
skills that are required in the basic life. Also
assessing patient in every step to improve the
activities of basic living
Stroke Rehabilitation
• This treatment type helps to restore damage
that is caused after a stroke, which is the 3rd
leading cause for death worldwide
• Stroke rehabilitation aims at helping people
gain maximum normal functioning after the
occurrence of a stroke
• This also help the person to get back to
normal lifestyle and be independent in daily
activities
 Types of Rehabilitation
Vocational rehabilitation
• Program is designed to help those people
who find it difficult to get employment or
retain it after they have gone through
certain situation that caused mental or
physical disability in them
• Providing physiological and medical
assessment, job placement, job training
and on job training
Vestibular rehabilitation
• It helps in improving the ear deficit by
working on the central nervous system. It
also deals in improving eye and head
coordination
Drug rehabilitation
• Programs involve programs that are
designed to make an addict free from the
addiction of alcohol, prescription drug and
street drugs (cocaine, heroin etc.)
 REFERENCES

● https://www.kpwkm.gov.my/kpwkm/index.php?r=portal/about&id=b0J5ZFBERFh
salo2U05TWk1nSzVDQT09
● https://www.schoolmalaysia.com/resources/govn_social_welfare.php
● https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_Women,_Family_and_Community_Dev
elopment
● https://www.malaysia.gov.my/portal/content/27608
● http://ohd.moh.gov.my/index.php/en/allcategories-en-gb/2-uncategorised/132-
service-for-children-with-special-needs
Thank You