Monday, June 8, 2009

Wanita MCA setting up counselling centres for women and kids

The Star News : Sunday June 7, 2009

KOTA KINABALU: Underprivileged women and children around the country will soon have another place to turn to for help when counselling centres at MCA offices nationwide become operational.

Wanita MCA deputy chief Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun said the movement was hoping to get the counselling centres launched by month’s end.

“Some 150 counsellors for the centres are currently undergoing training,” said Chew, the Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister after launching a baby show here yesterday.

“We already have the counselling centres at 16 of the 22 MCA division offices in Selangor and we hope to get similar centres going soon at divisions in the various states,” she said.

She said the counselling centres was aimed at providing assistance to women and children facing emotional, health, financial, as well as other problems.

Meanwhile, Chew said the Wanita MCA in Sabah would be the next after Terengganu and Malacca to submit a memorandum against sexist remarks to the state assembly.

“We want to ensure a better environment at the assembly sittings and that there is no discrimination against women,” she added.

On yesterday’s event, Chew said efforts at promoting breastfeeding had to be continuous.

She said the number of Malaysian women who breastfed during the first six months after delivery had dropped by half from 29% in 1996 to barely 14% in 2006.

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