Health screenings at Special Olympics uncover undiagnosed conditions among athletes
Fatimah (centre) speaks to the media while Ruslan (left) and Dr Toh look on.
BINTULU (April 26): Health screenings conducted during the Special Olympics Malaysia 6th National Games Sarawak 2026 have uncovered undiagnosed medical conditions among athletes with intellectual disabilities, highlighting the importance of the Healthy Athletes Programme (HAP), said Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah.
She said the programme serves as an essential healthcare access point for athletes, many of whom have never undergone proper medical screening.
“This programme gives added value to the Special Olympics Games because it allows athletes to undergo important health screenings that can detect issues which may otherwise go unnoticed,” she said at a press conference after visiting the screening stations at SJKC Chung Hua Bintulu here on Sunday.
She said among the issues identified were hearing impairments that had previously gone undetected.
“Some athletes were found to have hearing loss, and around 20 per cent were unaware of their condition. When these issues are not detected, it can lead to misunderstanding and miscommunication involving parents, teachers and coaches,” she said.
Fatimah said the screenings enable early intervention and referrals, preventing minor health concerns from escalating into more serious problems.
“If there is no access to this kind of programme, these medical issues may remain undetected and eventually deteriorate,” she added.
The initiative brought together 15 clinical directors, 97 health volunteers, 40 medical students and 16 student data assistants, allowing organisers to conduct more than 1,000 screenings during the event.
She commended the commitment shown by healthcare professionals and volunteers from Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia, saying their contribution was invaluable in ensuring the programme’s success.
“All these screenings are done under one roof, and those needing urgent attention are immediately referred for follow-up treatment. This makes the programme highly impactful for our athletes,” she said.
Fatimah, who is also the president of Special Olympics Sarawak, called on Special Olympics Malaysia to expand the programme to other chapters nationwide.
“Sports can empower athletes with disabilities, but health is just as important. We want them to have access to both opportunities in sports and the healthcare they deserve,” she stressed.
Also present at the press conference were Special Olympics Global Medical Advisory Committee member and Clinical Director (Health Promotion) for Special Olympics Malaysia Prof Dr Toh Teck Hock, and Bintulu Port Holdings Berhad president and group chief executive officer Dato Ruslan Abdul Ghani.