KUCHING: The newly introduced TOY8 digital screening programme is being hailed as a promising solution to address the long waiting list at the One-Stop Early Intervention Centre (OSEIC) in Sarawak.

Minister of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah noted that while OSEIC was initially designed to accommodate 100 children, the rising demand has outgrown the existing facilities, leading to extended wait times.

She explained that assessments by doctors at Sarawak Government Hospital are currently limited to only four children per month, which further delays early intervention for many.

“With the TOY8 digital screening programme, we believe we can tackle this issue head-on. The pilot project at SeDidik has yielded encouraging results, and I am confident this approach will help us manage the waiting list more effectively,” she said during her speech at the OSEIC Sarawak 2025 Graduation Ceremony held at a prominent hotel here on Friday.

“We want to ensure no child is left behind, as early intervention is crucial. Every day of delay affects their development and rehabilitation progress,” she added.

The TOY8 programme offers an innovative, play-based digital assessment of children’s language, cognitive, motor, and social development, while also providing targeted intervention support.

By utilising artificial intelligence (AI), the screening can help identify children with conditions such as autism, global developmental delay, and speech delay at an earlier stage, allowing for timely and effective intervention.

Dato Sri Fatimah emphasised that this initiative is aligned with the Sarawak Government’s commitment to social inclusivity under the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.

It aims to ensure that children with special needs receive the support and attention they deserve.

“We have a responsibility to provide the necessary interventions and rehabilitation so that these children can thrive,” she said. “We must give equal focus to all children, particularly the youngest members of our community, by ensuring they receive the care and intervention they need."

She expressed optimism that the TOY8 programme would not only be a cost-effective solution in the long term but also deliver significant benefits to special needs children who depend on the Sarawak Government’s attention and support.

During the ceremony, 133 young graduates were celebrated for their achievements.

Among them, 25 children have successfully transitioned into mainstream education, while 93 will continue their studies under the Special Education Integration Programme (PPKI).

Additionally, 15 children will be enrolled in Special Education Primary Schools (SKPK).

Also present at the event were Deputy Minister of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing (KPWK), Datuk Rosey Yunus, KPWK Deputy Permanent Secretary, Colliner Gohe, OSEIC General Manager, Dato Dr Saadiah Abdul Samat, and the representative of the Chairman of OSEIC Sarawak Management Committee, Ng Kui Choo. -UKASnews