Monday July 6, 2009
More frequent checks to prevent a recurrence
Reports by LESTER KONG, YUEN MEIKENG, ZALINAH NOORDIN and DESIREE TRESA GASPER
PETALING JAYA: The Health Ministry and the Social Welfare Department are going to team up and ensure that residents at the Taman Sinar Harapan home receive the care they deserve.
For a start, the department will recommend to the ministry that more frequent checks be conducted at the home and other shelters to prevent the recurrence of similar shocking conditions in the future.
“The cooperation between us is already there,” said department deputy director-general (operations) Halijah Yahaya. “Under the Mental Health Ordinance, the care of the mentally challenged is under the purview of the ministry.
Currently, Halijah said the ministry was providing psychiatric care and doctors to the home.
“But they should make more frequent visits, not just once a month, but once every week.”
Meanwhile, legal experts claimed that the treatment of the residents was a breach of human rights and international laws.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said Taman Sinar Harapan residents who were confirmed to have mental problems would be transferred to government psychiatric wards.
He said he had ordered health officers to visit the home in Kuala Kubu Baru to check on the patients and report to him by today.
“If they are genuine psychiatric patients, I will direct them to be transferred to government psychiatric wards for treatment.
“They have no place in a home like Taman Sinar Harapan,” he said in an interview here yesterday.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said she had visited the home before and knew there were wards reserved and dedicated for the severely mentally and physically challenged cases.
“I read the article with great concern. I have directed the ministry’s secretary-general Tan Sri Faizah Tahir to prepare an in-depth report on the matter immediately,” she said.
Related Stories:
Expose sparks off aid for disabled folk
Bar Council: Treatment of residents violates international laws
Suhakam to lodge complaint over mistreatment
Residents clothed and stench almost gone
Niosh: Do more to promote mental health
Negligence in how shelter is managed
Need to remove stigma on patients
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