A
Centre of Hope
Spastic kids improve spectacularly
after China's intensive massage treatment
| A
Centre of Hope
Spastic kids improve spectacularly
after China's intensive massage treatment
|
Children like Ivan here had to be helped to a standing position before treatment |
THE GOOD NEWS FROM THE CHINESE CITY OF SHIHJIAZHUANG is, that given
the right treatment, the condition of spastic children could spectacularly
improve. And the man inspiring fresh hope is Dr Wang Shou Pian of the Child
Brain Paralysis Rehabilitation Centre. His programme is a combination of
traditional Chinese medicine, massage, electrical stimulation, and abilities
training ( kinetic and cognative exercises).
The Centre's record of successful treatment of 5000 children since 1987 so impressed the Penang Spastic Children's Centre that they sent their own physiotherapist, Dr Henner Wenkhausen of Germany to investigate. The result was an invitation to Dr Wang to come and lecture on his methods. 250 couples from Malaya, Sarawak and Singapore attended his ground breaking lecture. For a start, 30 kids were sent by their parents to Dr Wang's Centre for treatment.
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Lee after treatment is now able to stretch out her hands and crawl
about, to her delight.
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But far away Shijiazhuang cost a lot of money: 6000 to 8000
ringgit monthly. So the Penang Association decided to launch its
own centre using Dr Wang methods. One masseur and three physiotherapists
and were brought in from Shijiazhuang, reinforced by a visiting doctor.
Their job was to train local staff. The project is so successful that 40
children now attend the course.
Those with 1 - 3 years disability respond most rapidly with an intensive
massage programme while those with 4 years and more take more time. But
even that small number tends to overwhelm the staff so that the parents
are encouraged to attend while their kids are being treated so that they
themselves become skilled, continuing treatment after three months at home
lessening the strain on the Centre's resources.
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| The Spastic Children's Association
of Penang was founded 1962 by the Rotary Club The first
training session started in 1963 with 5 children. In 1966, the late
Lim Cheng Ean offered the Association the use of his house, Hardwick,
and the training centre was relocated there. In 1967 the Centre opened
at Green Lane on one acre of leased land
Staff include teachers, an occupational therapist, a speech therapist, as well as a physiotherapist, There are now 23 members of the staff at the training centre, there are 107 children at 10 classes. In October 2000 a workshop was opened for kids of 18 years and above who are unable to find suitable jobs. It makes book marks, files and other articles for sale. Penang is the only centre in Malaysia providing treatment by the Dr Wang method. The kids come from as far away as Kuching The Association has been renamed The Cerebral Palsy Children's Association of Penang. Telephone 04 657 0160 Fax 04 656 3066 Email:scap@tm.net.my |
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INDEX Point to the article that you want to read, and CLICK Home Baba Sayings True Baba Deepavali Dance Living Heritage Uli Lenz Lim Cheng Ean Penang Sketchbook Remarkable Recovery Spastics Toronto letter Traffic |
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The Penang File Issue 18 |