KUCHING: In conjunction with World Parkinson’s Day, the Kuching Parkinson’s Society (KPS) and the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) Sarawak Branch co-organised a public forum titled ‘Moving Forward with Parkinson’s’ at the Imperial Hotel Kuching yesterday.
KPS President, Easter Sim, said that the goal of this forum is to highlight the current and ongoing advancements in treatment, and support for people living with Parkinson’s disease (PD).
“This includes medical and surgical advances, as well as movement and exercise therapies for Parkinson’s,” she said in her welcoming address during the forum which was officiated by KPS patron, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian.
Furthermore, a selected panel of medical specialists in the field of PD management in Sarawak gave their presentations at the forum.
They included Dr Sim Chun Yang, neurologist (movement disorder specialist), Dr Chhoa Keng Hong, neuro-psychiatrist, and Dr Lau Bik Liang, neurosurgeon (functional neurosurgery).
“There was also a talk on specializsed PD-specific programmes, LSVT Big and LSVT Loud, by senior physiotherapist, Chua Ying Ying, and senior speech therapist, Ms Sue Walker.
“According to Dr Lau Bik Liang, in Sarawak, the lack of specialised healthcare professionals once limited the availability of comprehensive treatment for these patients.
“However, the situation has improved significantly with the emergence of a dedicated multidisciplinary team of experts,” she said.
She explained that this team includes neurologists specialising in movement disorders, stereotactic and functional neurosurgeons skilled in deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery, neuro-anesthetists, neuro-psychiatrists, physiotherapists with expertise in PD, and support from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) such as the Kuching and Sibu Parkinson’s Disease Associations.
“This collaborative effort has enabled a more holistic and effective approach to treating and supporting Parkinson’s patients in Sarawak, offering them hope and improved quality of life,” she added.
Additionally, a special segment featured a heartfelt sharing by Parkinson Warrior and Sibu Parkinson Society President, Ling Mei Ling, who spoke about her experience undergoing the DBS operation and how it changed her life.
The forum concluded with a final take-home message from the Parkinsons Warrior and KPS founder, Mary Lu, with the message ‘Don’t give up on yourself’.
The forum received positive feedback from the 130 participants, who were delighted to hear from leading specialists in the field of PD management in Sarawak and to also interact with other PWPs attending the Forum.
