Gov T To Train 10 000 Lay Counsellors Next Year

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The government aims to produce 10,000 lay counsellors next year to curb the increase of mental problems in the country, Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said today
Wan Azizah, who is also women, family and community development minister, said that up to 2018, some 5,500 individuals were trained as lay counsellors through a programme under the voluntary concept
"We will further strengthen this (lay counsellors) programme next year to multiply the existing number
"Anyone who wants to be a lay counsellor will have to go through a screening test and go for a three-day course to get a qualification certificate," she said after attending a women’s carnival and ‘Back to School’ programme in Kampung Pandan Dalam in Kuala Lumpur
The counsellors' programme, which began in 2015, is a collaboration between the Board of Counsellors of Malaysia and the Women Development Department, which serves as a platform for advisory and guidance to community members in need
Meanwhile, Wan Azizah said, as of November 2018, a total of 26,601 women had benefitted from the department's anti-crime programme, the campaign to tackle violence against women, the roundtable on the elimination of violence against women and a legal clinic
She said these programmes were aimed at giving exposures in the legal aspect, women’s rights and information on aid channels to the women requiring them
In addition, she said Putrajaya would continue the implementation of women’s empowerment programmes to ensure that women could actively and effectively contribute to national development
Free advisory servicesAmong the programmes were women’s economic empowerment through community-based enterprises which were implemented by the State Women Development Office under the Women Development Department
‘’The women’s group including housewives and single mothers with low incomes too will be guided by business operators, individuals with skills or entrepreneurs who are successful in their respective fields so that they can generate incomes through entrepreneurship endeavours,’’ she said
Wan Azizah, who is also Pandan MP, said the legal clinic which was held during the ‘Santuni Rakyat’ programme in Pandan Indah on Sept 29 would be continued next year
She said with the availability of the legal clinic the residents in the Pandan constituency could obtain free advisory services from lawyers
In the meantime, she said her Pandan service centre had been instructed to always go down to the ground and look into the problems of the residents in the constituency
‘’Among the problems which have to be given prompt attention are the issues of floods, landslides, fires, and visiting the destitute and the sick,’’ she said
At the Pandan Women's Aspect Carnival and back-to-school programme, Wan Azizah handed over cheques to five schools in her constituency for the maintenance and repair of facilities and equipment
The schools were SMK Taman Seraya which received a contribution of RM48,350, SK Taman Muda (RM45,690), SK Taman Bukit Teratai (RM38,600), SK Tasek Permai Ampang (RM34,900) and SK Pandan Perdana (RM32,640)
Wan Azizah also handed over schooling supplies to 50 children
- Bernama

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