Kiwanis to set up centre in Ipoh

Sun2Surf: IPOH: An average of 86 babies in the state are born with Down's syndrome every year and this has prompted the Kiwanis Down's Syndrome Foundation to establish its first centre in the northern area.
Kiwanis Club of Ipoh president Steven Chong said the centre is scheduled to open next year and initially take in 50 children at an estimated operational cost of RM100,000 in its first year.
He urged the parents of such children here, Penang and Kedah to enrol their children in an infant development or early intervention programme.
"The progamme offers special instruction in teaching language, cognitive skills, self-help and social skills. The centre is open to those aged between one and six years," Chong said.
"Appropriate programmes administered by parents to their children during the early developmental stages will improve the children's chances of developing their fullest potential.
"Our objective is also to see that parents are given professional counselling. Many are already seeking help as to how they can understand and care better for their children.
The centre will be the seventh started by the foundation. The others are in Petaling Jaya (headquarters), Klang, Malacca, Johor Baru, Seremban and Kota Kinabalu.
"The club has embarked on several programmes to raise funds to meet the expenses," he said.
Kiwanis Ipoh is organising a charity dinner on Dec 18 at the Bougainvillae Counrty Club to raise RM20,000.
Sunway City, Giant Superstore, the Lost World of Tambun and the club are jointly organising a charity run on Jan 22 to raise RM50,000.
For details, call Chong at 012-5883386, Ng Bee Keong at 019-3116650 or Tony Goh at 012-5663722.