KUCHING: The Sarawak Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the welfare of children with special needs by allocating RM3.936 million in the 2025 state budget to sustain One-Stop Early Intervention Centre (OSEIC) programmes.
Minister for Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said as of October 31, 536 children have registered at OSEIC Kuching, and 55 children are enrolled at OSEIC Dalat.
“Most of these children are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and speech delays. The waiting list for OSEIC Kuching has reached 422 children, underscoring the growing demand for early intervention services. OSEIC Dalat, however, currently has no waiting list,” she said during the third meeting of the OSEIC Sarawak Advisory Committee for 2024 today (Dec 3).
According to Fatimah, the allocation given demonstrates the government’s dedication to ensuring children with special needs receive appropriate intervention and support.
She added that to address the increasing demand, the state plans to open OSEIC Sarawak Miri early next year.
“Additionally, discussions are underway to establish OSEIC Samarahan, which will cater to children from Samarahan and Serian currently attending sessions in Kuching.
“These expansions aim to provide diagnostic and early intervention services closer to local communities, ensuring more children can benefit from the programme,” she explained.
Looking ahead, OSEIC Sarawak is exploring a groundbreaking collaboration with Toy 8, a company known for its innovative play-based tools designed to enhance cognitive, motor and social development.
The proposal seeks to integrate these tools into OSEIC’s programmes, offering children engaging, child-centric activities that cater to their unique needs.
“By combining Toy 8’s innovative tools with OSEIC Sarawak’s proven early intervention strategies, we hope to create transformative experiences for children with special needs, helping them reach their full potential both at the centre and at home.” said Shun Matsuzaka, co-founder of Toy 8, while expressing his enthusiasm for the partnership.
“The collaboration also includes plans for comprehensive training for therapists and parents to ensure effective implementation of the tools and consistency between intervention settings.
“A robust monitoring and evaluation framework is under development to measure the impact and refine strategies, reinforcing OSEIC Sarawak’s commitment to empowering children through cutting-edge solutions and partnerships,” he said.
