Minister Dr Farrugia and Parliamentary Secretary Dr Caruana meet the residents of Id-Dar tal-Providenza

The Minister for the Family and Social Solidarity, Dr Michael Farrugia and the Parliamentary Secretary for Rights of Persons with Disability and Active Ageing, Dr Justyne Caruana both said that the Government will soon be announcing a series of initiatives intended to continue improving the quality of life of persons with disability. They were visiting Id-Dar tal-Providenza in Siġġiewi to meet and talk to its residents. They also found time to see the ICT Lab and the Multisensory Rooms that were inaugurated a year ago by President, now Emeritus, Dr George Abela.

Dr Farrugia stressed on the importance of the cooperation that exists between State and Church were persons with disability are concerned. The Church has always been in the forefront in this sector. The Minister confirmed the Government’s support in all that the Church is doing, a case in point is Id-Dar tal-Providenza, to continue improving the quality of life of persons with disability.

On her part, Dr Caruana praised the work that the Home does on a human and social level and said that, on the strength of close relationships and cooperation, services and benefits for persons with disability will continue to improve.

In his welcome speech, Fr Martin Micallef, Director of Id-Dar tal-Providenza, said the Home is committed to provide the best residential services possible to persons with disability that they or their families choose to have as well as to continue offering respite services so that it can continue to contribute in this area. He reiterated that Id-Dar tal-Providenza is also committed to give its input to the Forum of Organisations that offer Residential Services to Persons with Disability and the National Commission Persons with Disability in order to ensure that in our country this activity is coordinated as much as possible. Fr Martin confirmed “the full support for the Government so that in coordinated action we can ensure that the rights of persons with disability and their families are always protected.”