Minister of Social Development inaugurates Ail Comprehensive Center for Inclusive Day Services in Ma'an

Minister of Social Development Wafaa Bani Mustafa inaugurated, on Monday, the Ail Comprehensive Center for Inclusive Day Services in the Ail District of Ma'an Governorate, which was established in partnership between the Ministry of Social Development and the Ma'an Governorate Council "Decentralization," with the aim of enhancing the access of persons with disabilities to specialized and inclusive services in their areas of residence.

Bani Mustafa emphasized the importance of the center in providing integrated and specialized services for persons with disabilities in the Ail District and surrounding areas, including Al-Murayghah and Udruh, noting that the establishment of the center comes within the Ministry of Social Development's plans to expand the provision of social and rehabilitation services to target groups and facilitate citizens' access to them.

She pointed out that this approach is in line with the high Royal directives to provide persons with disabilities with the best means of care and protection, within an integrated service system, in accordance with government priorities in social fields, and enhances justice in access to services among the various regions of the Kingdom.

Bani Mustafa added that the government, through the Ministry, continues its efforts to provide services to the target groups of its programs, primarily persons with disabilities, and to work on developing the service system to respond to their needs and the needs of their families, and to enhance their participation in society.

She said that the creation of the center and the early intervention unit in the Ail District comes in response to the needs of the district and its surrounding areas, and as a continuation of government efforts to expand the establishment of early intervention units in various regions of the Kingdom, which contributes to the early detection of disabilities and intervention at early ages to reduce their future effects and enhance the opportunities for children with disabilities to grow and integrate.

She indicated that the center provides various services including special education programs, physical and occupational therapy, speech therapy, family counseling, and life skills development, in addition to rehabilitation and training programs, pointing out that the unit is equipped to receive about 40 children with disabilities, as it will provide its services to children from one day old up to 6 years old who need early intervention, in addition to individuals older than this age.

Bani Mustafa explained that the establishment of the center aims to facilitate the access of children with disabilities and their families to integrated and sustainable services provided for the first time in the district free of charge, which contributes to supporting independent living for children, enhancing their ability to rely on themselves, and integrating them effectively into their families and communities.

She added that the introduction of these services comes within the framework of the national trend towards shifting to the approach of alternatives to institutional care, as an advanced model that invests in the latent potential of persons with disabilities and enables them to live and integrate within their families and communities, instead of relying on institutional care patterns.

For his part, Mahmoud Musayeb Al-Naimat, in his speech on behalf of the local community, expressed their appreciation for the efforts of the Ministry of Social Development in establishing the center and the unit and providing its services in the Ail District, confirming that the proximity of services to the places of residence of the beneficiaries and their families contributed to facilitating their children's access to them, and reduced the burdens of traveling to other regions and governorates, praising the level of services provided to their children and their impact on supporting their capabilities and developing their skills.

The opening of the Ail Comprehensive Center for Inclusive Day Services comes within the efforts of the Ministry of Social Development to enhance the spread of specialized services for persons with disabilities and provide them near their places of residence, which supports social inclusion and enhances the access of children and their families to rehabilitation, care, and early intervention services in a free and sustainable manner. The opening was attended by Ma'an Governor Khaled Al-Hajjaj, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Social Development Dr. Barq Al-Dmour, Director-General of the National Aid Fund Khitam Shneikat, Ail District Director Mohammed Al-Sa'idat, Head of the Ma'an Governorate Council Committee Dr. Musa Al-Shalabi, Head of the New Ail Municipality Committee Ibrahim Kreishan, and a number of sheikhs and dignitaries of the region, a number of beneficiaries' families, in addition to a number of civil and security officials.