Kota Kinabalu's Ballerina Seeks To Inspire More Young Dancers

Interview & Photos by Stella Matilda

Charlotte Chan Kota Kinabalu’s Favourite Ballerina Seeks to Inspire More Young Dancers.

How long have you been dancing and when did you start?

At the age of 10 when my mother put me and my sister in our first ballet class. I just thought that it would be for fun, not knowing what it would turn into. I met another dance teacher when I was 16, and I learnt more about dancing. Besides ballet, I’ve learnt contemporary dance and choreography as well. I’ve decided to pursue my dream to study a bachelors degree in Dance when I was 20. Well, age is not an excuse, I did everything I could to learn as much as I could during university time.

How often would you dance in a day/week?

My university life was entirely dedicated to dancing. I spend 6 to 8 hours in a day when I in university. Sometimes, we spend more than that if there’s a performance coming. However, I am focusing on teaching here, so I dance once a week to maintain my form.

What was your favourite performance to see/be in?

My university graduation show: Art, Memory, Dream in 2011.

What shows have you been in?

Taiwan: Performed in Wa Dance (2009)

-Taipei, Wu Yun Feng Hua (2010)

-Taipei, Art, Memory, Dream (2011)

-Taipei & Tai Zhong

Kota Kinabalu: Joined Synergy Dance

Studio since 2006. Performed in Pandora’s

Box (2006), Snow in my Heart

(2008), No-Love-Story (2012), Marking

Our Life (2013), Exodus (2012) and

Halloween Chap Pa Lang (2012).

Do you have any secrets for dancing?

Dancing is my life and I only hope that there are many more young ballerinas out there feel the same way. Every correction you receive is a gift from a dance teacher who sees greater potential in you. Appreciate every correction and never give up! You have to love dancing to stick to it. It gives you nothing back, no manuscripts to store away, no paintings to show on walls, no poems to be printed and sold, nothing but that single fleeting moment when you feel alive.

What do you have to do to prepare for a show?

Hard work and dedication are needed for a show. Besides those, the most important thing to have is a positive attitude. 

As an instructor, besides dance choreography, dancers’ technique & trainings, I have to prepare and deal with advertising, ticket selling, lighting, photography, videography & backstage crew flows. Extra dance practises and rehearsals are needed and all these require cooperation from parents.

What do people not know about the world of ballet?

In this industry, if you don’t put the work in yourself, no one is going to do it for you. There’s a huge part that comes from having talent, but without hard work, one will never make it.

Why do you think people see Ballet as an easy thing that anyone can do?

This, perhaps; dancers have the ability to make what they are doing look graceful instead of grueling and, at times, painful. The beauty is that they have the ability to make it look completely effortless.

What is the hardest thing about ballet?

I think ballet is one of the most demanding things to do. It hurts. It takes time. It requires dedication and will power. You will need to make healthy decisions. It requires sacrifice. You will need to push your body to the maximum. There will be temptation. But when you reach your goal, its WORTH IT.

Address: Unit 5, 1st Floor, Block K, Metro Town, Jalan Bunga Ulam Raja, 88300 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

Facebook: Charlotte Dance Studio

Contact: 011-1601 4909


Offering a complete program for the young dancer from age 4 years old and above. The studio uses a professional sprung dance floor structure and dance floor mats imported from Taiwan to prevent sport injuries. Fees: Pre-Ballet RM80 per month, Primary RM90 per month, Adult Ballet RM100 per month, Advance Class RM100 per month and Special Individual Class RM70 per hour.

Pets in Family

By Dr. Cecilia Boklin | Doctor of Veterinary Medicine | Kinabalu Animal Clinic

The Benefits of Pets in a Family Institution

Children love animals - their pets especially, and for good reasons. Animals offer a special kind of bond with them, with companionship and often delights. Caring for animals teaches children responsibility and empathy. Along with these, presence of animals in and around the house helps foster children’s emotional, cognitive, social and physical development.

Animals can be a great sense of comfort. Children often turn to their pets when they feel sad, angry, afraid or when they have a secret to share. An animal also gives a child something to talk about and a shared interest with other kids.

Having pets can help build family bonds. Most children and parents consider their pets as part of the family. Animal often becomes the focus of activities that families do together and this helps families grow stronger and closer. Taking a dog for a walk, grooming and feeding them, or getting down on the floor and playing with a cat offer the wonderful potential of slowing down the pace of modern life.

If you have a child with allergies, it is beneficial to get allergy testing done to determine the substances that might trigger an allergic response in your child, and it will help to rule out additional allergies which could be caused by a pet’s diet or bedding. This will also help a family to make an informed decision about what type of pet to have.

Responsible Pet Ownership

The benefits of pet ownership come with responsibilities. To be a responsible pet owner, a family must be able to give a full commitment. When selecting a pet, choose a pet that is suited to your home and lifestyle. Keep only the type and number of pets for which you can provide appropriate food, water, shelter, health care and most importantly, companionship.

All family members should commit to the relationship for the life of the pet. Appropriate exercise and mental stimulation (enrichment activities) should be provided. It is important to also properly socialize and train your pet to encourage bonding.

Hygiene is of utmost importance when owning a pet. Always clean up after your pet and do not allow your pet to stray or become feral. Limit your pet’s reproduction through neuterization, containment or managed breeding. Pet owners must also obey local ordinances, including licensing, leash requirements and noise control.

Pet ownership requires an investment of time, energy and also money. It is very important to ensure that a pet receives preventive health care (vaccinations, parasite control, etc.) as well as care for any illnesses or injuries. Always set aside a budget for potential emergencies. Pet owners should prepare alternate arrangements if they can no longer provide care for the pet.

Last but not least, as responsible pet owners, family members must be attentive to any decline in the pet’s quality of life and be able to make timely decisions in consultation with a qualified veterinarian.

Vaccination Plan

Dog Vaccination (10 in 1)

1) Canine Adenovirus 1
2) Canine Adenovirus 2
3) Canine Coronavirus Enteritis
4) Canine Distemper
5) Canine Parainfluenza
6) Canine Parvovirus
7) Canine Leptospirosis (L.canicola)
8) Canine Leptospirosis (L.grippotyphosa)
9) Canine Leptospirosis (L.icterohaemorrhagiae)
10) Canine Leptospirosis (L.pomona)

Cat Vaccination (4 in 1)

1) Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (FVR) caused by Feline Herpesvirus-1
2) Respiratory disease caused by Feline Calicivirus (FCV)
3) Feline Panleukopenia (FPL) caused by Feline Parvovirus (FPV)
4) Feline Chlamydiosis caused by Chlamydia psittaci.

Address:
Lot 6, Lorong Durian 3, Kian Yap Industrial Estate, 88450 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

Contact: 088-385 804

Website: www.kinabaluvet.com

Facebook: Kinabalu Animal Clinic

Mommy, my tummy hurts!!! Abdominal Pain in Children

By Dr. Alvin Khoh | Consultant Paediatric Gastroenterologist | Gleneagles Kota Kinabalu Hospital

Abdominal pain in children is a common occurrence. Thankfully, in most cases, it is not caused by a serious condition. Irregardless, it does cause a lot of discomfort and distress to both the child and the family. It tends to interfere with the child’s daily activities, including schooling and other play activities.

Abdominal pain can happen suddenly or developed slowly over time. Most often, it is associated with other symptoms e.g.. vomiting, diarrhoea or fever.

The causes of abdominal pain in children are quite diverse. Among the more common cause may be food related (too much food, fizzy drinks or food poisoning), constipation or even viral infection (including gastroenteritis, causing vomiting and diarrhoea).

Other causes includes:
• Gastritis
• Heartburn
• Food allergy
• Appendicitis
• Urine infection
• Period pain in girls

In some children, the cause of abdominal pain may not be easily diagnosed at the onset. Over time, as more symptoms appear, it becomes more obvious. Thus it is very important for the child to be closely followed-up by their regular doctor in these instances.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Depending on the signs and symptoms that your child has, your doctor may order some tests: e.g.. blood, urine, x-ray or ultrasound. However, in most cases, investigations are not needed.

Similarly, treatment depends on the cause of the abdominal pain. Pain relief such as paracetamol are commonly used if needed. Antibiotics and gastric medications are used when necessary. If appendicitis is suspected, then your child may require surgery.

My child has been having abdominal pain for a long time!!

Some children have recurrent abdominal pains for months without any obvious cause. These children are usually healthy looking and growing well. This phenomenon is usually described as functional abdominal pain” and is not caused by any serious disease.

However, the pain tends to interfere with their daily activities, including school. It is usually triggered by stress or significant emotional events in life. These can cause the brain to send “excessive signals” to the nerves in the gut- thus causing the pain.It is important to recognise that the pain is real to the child, and not to brush it away by calling it “attention-seeking” behaviour.

These children should be assessed and managed by a specialist doctor thoroughly to ensure that they are not suffering from any significant disease.

When to seek help from a doctor?

If the pain or problem persists more than 1 day, it is best to seek medical advice. Seek help urgently if your child has the following:

• Has severe pain, frequent pain or the pain has moved
• Does not want to move
• Becomes pale, sweaty, lethargic or has high fever
• Refuses to drink fluids
• Vomiting > 24 hours and unable to keep fluids down
• Blood in the vomit or stools
• Recent injury to the abdomen (eg. falling down from bicycle, sports-related etc)

What can you do if your child develops abdominal pain?

Many children with abdominal pain get better quickly without any specific treatment. It is advisable for them to get lots of rest. The following may also help your child:

• Encourage your child to drink fluids
• If hungry, let your child eat what they want, or offer bland food - eg. biscuit, banana, porridge
• Do not force feed
• Encourage sitting on the toilet - passing motion may help
• Rubbing a child’s tummy gently and distract them (eg story telling)
• Paracetamol may be used (in the correct dosing)

Conclusion

Many children get abdominal pain, and most get better by themselves. Often, no cause can be found and at other times, the cause only becomes more obvious with time. Seeking timely help is important in managing these children, especially if they are unwell.


For more information, please contact Gleneagles Kota Kinabalu Hospital at 088-518 888.
Address: Riverson@Sembulan, Block A-1, Lorong Riverson@Sembulan, 88100 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. For Emergency, please call 088-518 911

Benefits of Infant Massage & Hydrotherapy From Birth

Infant Massage Course For Parents and Baby

The benefits of infant massage have been enjoyed in other cultures for centuries, and now parents in Sabah can learn the techniques to help their babies enjoy this gift of loving touch as well. Learning infant massage is made easy with a certified infant massage instructor to guide you through each stroke diligently until you are confident in using these simple techniques.

Baby massage in Little Penyu is usually taught in a small group setting, or alternatively, parents can opt for a private individual session in Little Penyu or at the comfort of your home. Each session will run over a course of 4-5 weeks period (once a week), so that parents can learn the strokes gradually and to allow babies time to adjust to being massaged.

*Little Penyu infant massage instructors are experienced and they are Certified Infant Massage Instructors with the International Association of Infant Massage.

BENEFITS of INFANT MASSAGE
- Assist to relieve gas, colic, constipation or teething pain and Improve sleep patterns.
- Reduce stress hormones and promotes happy hormones especially in lactating mothers.
- Increased flexibility and muscle tone.
- Promoting bonding, secure attachment, feelings of love, respect and being valued.

Kids SPA

With Kids Spa, the adventure begins with a warm feet soak, a gentle homemade feet scrub, a yummy chocolate/honey homemade face mask, manicure & pedicure (Mermaid) / nail trimming (His Royal Highness) and a fun 15-20 minutes of jacuzzi time!

Hydrotherapy From Birth

Finding ways to effectively bondwith your baby can be challenging especially for busy working parents. When you do have time, there is only so much you can do especially with babies who are in their pre-crawling stage. This is where Little Penyu comes in. Little Penyu Baby Swim Spa is the first baby swim spa in Sabah providing indoor hydrotherapy (floatation and exercise in water) and swimming service for babies as early as 0 month without the risk of harsh chlorinated water and the outdoor elements.

Water therapy from birth is fantastic for baby’s brain health and physical development even before they start crawling. It utilizes their whole body movement and also assists baby to sleep and eat better. In each hydrotherapy session, the more your baby uses his/her brain and muscles, the stronger they will grow.

As your baby kicks around in the water, the small rocking waves he/ she creates will help to improve their balance and coordination and, ultimately, support their ability to crawl, walk and swim. Even if your baby falls asleep in the water, that rocking motion will continue with his/her rhythmic breathing.

Nurturing bonds especially for busy parents is important for us. At Little Penyu, every parent is encouraged to be hands on; from the baby warm up session to dressing them up. Our trained physiotherapist will guide and demonstrate every movement to make sure it is done safely and correctly.

BENEFITS of HYDROTHERAPY
- Muscular and skeletal strength is increased through the water’s gentle resistance.
- Subtle water pressure on the chest can increase lung capacity by strengthening intercostal muscles and the respiratory system.
- Regular visits can benefit the cardiovascular system.
- Innate swimming reflexes are stimulated and co-ordination is developed as they learn to control their movements.

Little Penyu Baby Swim Spa, 
Lot J-1-5, 1st Floor, Block J, (In Front of Lucy's Kitchen),
Lorong Metro Town, Jalan Bunga Ulam Raja,
88300 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.

For enquiries, please call 088-383 639 or visit www.littlepenyu.com today. Follow them on Facebook!

Can Your Baby Hear?

CAN YOUR BABY HEAR?

By Dr. Gavin Coad | Audiologist | Jesselton Medical Centre


Most children hear from birth, they learn to talk by imitating the sounds around them and the voices of their family. It is very difficult for parents to notice hearing loss in their baby, often the child is using their other senses to know what is going on around them. Only when the child does not develop speech do parents usually start to worry.

I often see children in clinic at around 3 years of age with speech delay, these parents have similar stories of a family member that was late to start talking so they thought everything would be fine.

Unfortunately, it is very hard for these children to catch up on this lost time and development. The first 2 or 3 years of life are critical for brain development; it is very important that a child has access to language very early in life. If a child is left too long with an undiagnosed hearing loss it will lead to delay in cognitive and language development in early childhood and to difficulties at school.

Research suggests that children with hearing loss who get help early develop better language skills than those who do not. Early detection with newborn hearing screening is essential in order to prevent language delays.

On average about 2 or 3 out of every 1000 babies are born with hearing loss, making it the one of the most common birth defects. The World Health Organisation recommends all babies have their hearing screened before they are a one month old, diagnosed by 3 months and receive intervention services by 6 months of age.

WHAT IS THE SCREENING TEST?

Two types of hearing screening tests are used:

1. Otoacoustic Emissions (OAE)
2. Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR).
Each test takes around five minutes and will not cause your baby any pain. Many babies sleep through the screening.


WHAT HAPPENS IF MY BABY FAILS THE TEST?

If your baby fails the hearing screening test, it does not necessarily mean that she has any hearing loss, but it does mean that more testing is required. It’s important that your baby has a repeat screen within 1 or 2 weeks of the failed test.

Babies sometimes fail the first test because they have ear wax in the ear canal, or fluid in the middle ear, or because they were too noisy during the test (crying or restless).

Many babies who fail the first screening go on to pass follow-up testing. Typically, if a baby does not pass the hearing screening tests, she will be referred to an audiologist to do more complete tests to find out whether it does have hearing loss. If you are not sure if you baby has had their hearing tested ask your doctor or see an audiologist for a hearing test.


LIST OF SERVICES OFFERED BY JESSELTON MEDICAL CENTRE AUDIOLOGY DEPARTMENT

1. Full Range of Hearing Tests -
Children and Adults (VRA, CPA, OAE, CPA, Tympanometry and AR)

2. Hearing Aids – Children and Adults
(with REM)

3. Tinnitus Assessment

4. Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) –
Natural sleep or under sedation.

We are the only private centre providing this full range of tests in Sabah. For more information, please call 088-366 333.

Jesselton Medical Centre

Jalan Metro 2, Metro Town, Off Jalan Lintas, 88300 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
Tel: +6088 366333
Emergency Hotline (24x7): +6088 366399
GPS: 5.975581°N, 116.112438°E

Website: www.jmc.my/
Follow them on Facebook!

Chores for Kids

Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder

By Dr. Fauziah Zainal Abidin 
Consultant Paediatrician with special interest in Developmental Paediatrics
Gleneagles Kota Kinabalu Hospital 088-518 888


“Ahmad’s mother has been concerned about him for sometime now. At three years of age, he has not started talking like the rest of his siblings. He has not even called her “mama” and sometimes she was not even sure whether he can hear well. He hardly looked at her or responded to her calls. He would be quite happy being on his own rather than playing with his siblings.

He somehow finds watching the wheels of a moving car or the turning of a fan more fascinating than anything else. She is also concerned with his feeds. He does not like anything else with his rice and efforts to feed him the fried chicken or meatballs have resulted in almost battlefield like scenes and a
meltdown for Ahmad. She had talked to her husband and her own mother about her concerns but she would be reassured that he would “grow out of it” as one of her cousin’s did before.”

What is Autistic Spectrum Disorder?

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition which affects an individual in the areas of communication, social interactions and having restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviour, interests or activity. This affects the individuals ability to interact with others and they often find the world to be a confusing place as they have difficulty adjusting and adapting to new and unfamiliar people and surroundings.

They may also have sensitivity issues, either being too sensitive or less sensitive in any of the five senses, hence the preference for or avoidance of certain foods, noises, clothing or even certain lights. Every individual with ASD is also different. The term itself reflects that no two people with ASD are alike, even though they all have difficulties in communication and socialisation, each will have a unique combination of character and so may seem quite different.

ASD affects around one in every 100 people and is diagnosed 4 to 5 times more common in boys than in girls. Although it is a life long condition and there is no cure, early intervention can have a tremendous results in helping those affected to live to their full potential.


What are the causes?

There is no known direct cause of Autism. Much research is being done to try to find out more of the cause but at this point it is believed to result from changes in the brain development which may be caused by a combination of genetic factors and environment. ASD is known to run in families but no specific genes have been determined so far. ASD is not caused by parenting or social circumstances. Various reputed research has been done to prove than ASD is NOT cause by vaccines or other medical treatments.

Assessments and diagnosis

Whilst receiving a diagnosis can be distressing or a heartbreak for most families, sometimes it can come as a relief to all their questions and worries before. For the young children, diagnosis leads to acceptance and empowerment for their parents to seek assistance and can dramatically improve their outcome. There are no laboratory or imaging tests that diagnose Autism. Diagnosis are made based on the ability of the individual in the main area of concern ie. social and communication and behavioural patterns.

For older children and adults, a diagnosis can help to explain why they feel different and allow them to access support and assistance to improve their quality of life. Developmental Paediatricians, Psychiatrist, Clinical Psychologist are trained to diagnosed individuals through a series of clinical evaluation and assessments.

Experts disagree about the true increase in ASD prevalence. More awareness about ASD leads to parents become more likely to take their children to be diagnosed and more doctors now are able to properly diagnosed ASD.

Living with ASD

ASD causes individuals to struggle to understand and relate to other people and environments. This can often result in extreme behaviour, such as tantrums in a young child or rudeness in older individuals. It is the only way they can cope with their stresses and feelings of anxiety. Parents on the other hand are often perceived as bad parents who are unable to control their children from behaving badly.

Adults with ASD also struggle with social situation and ‘small talk” They may appear rude, overly critical and awkward. They will have difficulty in forming relationships and maintaining friendships. Parents may feel unprepared or doubtful of their ability to provide the necessary care and education.

On a positive note, there are many treatment options, social services and programmes that can help. The problem is usually how to get access to them. Meeting with a healthcare provider or an educator can be a good source of information. Talking to an Autism Support group can help find local resources.

Meeting with a Paediatrician can help evaluate a child’s development and rule out other problems that may be helped and subsequently referred to the other experts who will develop an intervention plan for the child. Going through the transition to adulthood should be dealt with together with family members, healthcare service providers and other professionals.

Communications and reports should be kept well. Some adults with ASD are able to achieve independence to a certain extent thus self-advocay is an important aspect for individuals and family members with ASD. Through Self advocay, they may take on more responsibility for their education, employment, health care in their own community and else where.


For more information about this topic, please feel free to contact Gleneagles Kota Kinabalu Hospital at 088-518 888