Syrian Arab News Agency S A N A
Sweida, SANA – Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, in cooperation with the United Nations Development Program, held a festivity marking the International Day of Persons with Disabilities at the Arab Cultural Center in Sweida province.
Speaking at the festivity, Minister of Social Affairs Rima al-Qadri said that people with disabilities proved to have special capacities and succeed to overcome their mental and physical impairments, expressing gratitude to all charity, civil and official institutions for integrating their efforts to serve the interest of the homeland and support its steadfastness.
She hailed the initiatives and projects launched by the civil society in Sweida and the integration between the public and civil sectors to provide citizens, especially those with disabilities, with their needs.
The minister called for enhancing the contribution of the civil sector in providing job opportunities, stressing the Ministry’s unremitting efforts, in coordination with civil organizations, to offer better healthcare and educational services to people with disabilities and empower them to have active role in society, in addition to guaranteeing their rights.
Earlier, the Social Affairs Ministry signed with “Sawaedna” Charity Association a memo of understanding. The memo came within the framework of the ministry’s work plan to respond to the needs of local communities.
According to the memo, the Charity will take care of elderly people and children below 15 years of age with mental retardation at the Mental Retardation Institute in Sweida and train specialized and qualified cadres to meet their requirements.
Sweida Governo Amer Ibrahim al-Eshi indicated to the local community’s role in providing help to people with disabilities, injured army personnel and martyrs’ families, stressing that the memo will foster cooperation between government and civil society and support charitable efforts.
In turn, Director of the “Swaedna” Charity Board of Directors, Amjad Nasser, said the main aim is to provide cultural and developmental services through carrying out developmental programs and projects in order to improve the health, educational and living conditions.
R. Raslan / Ghossoun
