Training Center “Bahagia” Medan Responds to Cases of Children with Intellectual Disabilities who are Now Orphans

LABUHANBATU SELATAN (July 31, 2021) – Training Center Bahagia in Medan responded quickly to information obtained by the Director of Social Rehabilitation for Persons with Disabilities, the Ministry of Social Affairs, Eva Rahmi regarding the problem of intellectual disability in South Labuhanbatu Regency (Labusel).

The Head of the Center, Lyana Siregar assigned the Head of the Administrative Subdivision, Budi Prayitno and 2 (two) Social Workers, Maidinse Hutasoit and Ilzami to come to the location to respond to the case of the problem of the Social Welfare Services Recipient (PPKS).

PPKS named BSS who is 18 years old has no place to live after his parents died of COVID-19. BSS itself cannot perform daily activities well. However, the problems he suffers do not cause destructive behavior towards himself or his surroundings. The local Social Service and Village Apparatus said that BSS had no other relatives who could take care of him.

Previously, village officials did not know that there were residents with intellectual disabilities because BSS was always locked up by their families. His father is a retired plantation worker while his mother is a cook and gardener at a hospital. The closure of the BSS parents caused not much information to be known by village officials and residents.

This condition made it very difficult for village officials and the South Labuhan Batu Social Service to place BBS who was still in the hospital. The hospital itself has urged the village and the Social Service to immediately take BBS because it is healthy and does not require medical treatment.

Based on the results of case responses carried out by officers, the Ministry of Social Affairs through Training Center provided residential-based social rehabilitation services to BSS. BSS arrived at Training Center “Bahagia” Medan on August 1, 2021, and was placed in the male dormitory. While in the Center, BSS will receive assistance and training, especially concerning activities of daily life. It is hoped that BSS will be independent enough to carry out various simple daily life activities on their own.