ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Friday, October 9th 2015 [ME NewsWire]
The the Ministry of Interior marked the International Day of Older Persons with a variety of activities in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, in recognition of the achievements and contributions that older people make to society and to raise awareness about their rights.
The Human Rights Department organized a seminar at the Abu Dhabi Police Officers Club auditorium, under the theme “Caring for the Elderly is a Shared Responsibility”.
Major General Khalifa Hareb Al Khaili, Acting Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior for Naturalization, Residency and Ports Affairs, inaugurated the seminar with a speech by which he welcomed the attendees, and praised the valuable role of the elderly in the UAE. “The elderly provide a link between the present and the past; they are a source of rich experiences and wisdom; and an indispensable role model for the new generations,” he said.
Major General Al Khaili also asserted the Ministry of Interior’s commitment to include elderly care services as an integral part of its strategies, to ensure they receive proper care and attention, and to cater to all of their needs. “It is our hope that the seminar will help us add more knowledge about the elderly’s rights, and to examine additional methods to acquaint them with the services and facilities provided by the competent police authorities,” he said.
For his part Colonel Jamal Salem Al Ameri, from the Directorate General of Police Operations at the Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters, presented a paper about police service delivery to the elderly. The second paper was presented by Major Khalifa Musbah Khalifa Al Ka’bi, from Al Ain Residency and Foreigners Affairs Department. He tackled the initiatives undertaken by the Residency and Foreigners Affairs Department of Al Ain in the service of the elderly. Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Hamad Saeed, from the Dubai Police General Headquarters, presented the third paper titled ‘Your Security at a click of a button’. Captain Munira Al Rawahi, from the Emergency and Public Safety Department at Abu Dhabi Police presented the fourth paper titled ‘Emergency Services for the Elderly’. Lieutenant Saeed Ali Al Matroushi stressed on the important role of Social Support Centers in supporting elderly care.
Upon the conclusion of the seminar, Major General Al Khaili honored a number present at the event, along with the lecturers.
The Directorate General of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Abu Dhabi, represented by the Directorate General of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Al Ain, had hosted the third forum for best practices in service provision for seniors and people with special needs. The forum was held in participation of government entities and departments from Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Al Ain, and was attended by a number of officials and decision-makers at service institutions and entities in the city.
Colonel Khalifa Matar Balquba' Al Humairi, Director of the Residency and Foreigners' Affairs Department in Al Ain, stressed that the significant attendance at this annual forum reflects the keenness of the competent authorities to participate actively in celebrating the valuable categories of elderly and people with special needs. “This celebration aims to recognize their achievements and contributions in building the foundations of our beloved country. It also reflects the success of the forum in brainstorming ideas; exchanging expertise on the best practices to improve work; and advocating the need to double the efforts in taking care of families and individuals,” he said.
Colonel Al Humairi also noted that police institutions are committed to exerting additional efforts in the service of these categories and to providing services and care in innovative methods commensurate with the needs and requirements of community members. He also noted that police institutions are keen to support all innovative initiatives that meet the aspirations of the elderly and people with special needs.
The forum started with a paper presented by Aisha Al Dhaheri, from the Judicial Department in Al Ain. She noted that the Judicial Department has established the Injaz Service Center, which handles lawsuits filed by people with special needs and the elderly. The center streamlines procedures in support of these categories, taking into account their age and health conditions, by ushering employees to customers’ homes, if necessary. She also added that the Judicial Department has provided 5% of people with special needs with suitable jobs at the various units and sections, commensurate with their disability and their field of specialization.
For his part, Mr. Ahmad Al Esaa’i from Al Ain Labor Office reviewed the services provided for the elderly and people with special needs. He noted that Al Ain Labor Office provides the ‘Darb’ Service that includes service packages for people with special needs, the elderly, and women. It also provides ‘Darb – My Support’ to support youth projects; ‘Darb – My Privacy’ to support businesswomen in a way that respects their privacy; in addition to the ‘Darb - Recognition’ for the elderly, and the ‘Darb - My Career’ for people with special needs.
Muhammad Al Buraiki gave a presentation about the services provided by the Emirates Identity Authority (EIDA) via its various centers at the countrywide level. He noted that the Authority provides various advanced services to streamline registration, issuance, and renewal of ID cards for these categories, without having to visit one of the service centers. He also referred to the free mobile registration service, which visits the elderly and people with special needs at their residences for free. This stems out of the Authority’s commitment to enhancing the quality of the services provided to customers.
Al Buraiki added that EIDA had allocated a special team to visit elderly people older than 70 years, social assistance beneficiaries and people with special needs, at their preferred locations. The team uses the modern mobile services device to take customers’ fingerprints and photos, thus saving time and effort for both the employee and the customer. “Any customer who meets the required conditions can avail of the free mobile registration service by asking one of his relatives or family members to submit the application at the nearest service center or by filling the online application form on the Authority’s website,” he said.
For his part, Omair Obeid Al Rumaithi, from the Community Development Authority in Dubai gave an overview of the number of elderly people in the Emirate, according to the latest statistics. He also reviewed the care programs provided by the Authority to elderly people, including the Zakher card, which includes the services of 66 public and private department and institution in support of this category. “We have also the Zakher Social Club that offers various entertainment programs and support to its 132 members,” noted Al Rumaithi.
Boxed Text
ADP Transferred 5,554 Elderly Patients for Treatment at Hospitals in Three Years
Brigadier Eng. Hussein Ahmed Al Harithi, Director General of Central Operations at Abu Dhabi Police reiterated the directives of the police leadership, which calls for exerting further efforts and dedicating greater attention to individuals and families, especially children, women and elderly persons by offering them quality services as per the best standards, in support of all initiatives that meet the aspirations of older persons.
Brigadier Al Harithi stressed the commitment of the Abu Dhabi Police, via its various departments, to take care of the elderly and support all entities stakeholders and health care centers that provide care for them with the aim of improving the distinguished services provided to them in recognition of their contributions.
The Director General of Central Operations reiterated the keenness of the Abu Dhabi Police to provide the elderly with high-quality services in accordance with best practices. “The elderly are given priority treatment, either by ensuring rapid response to their calls for assistance and help via the Central Operations’ rooms, or by completing their transactions at the different police departments. This approach aims to support social interaction with all segments of society, and promotes the traditional social values,” he added.
For his part, Colonel Jamal Salem Al Ameri, from the Directorate General of Central Operations at the Abu Dhabi Police, underlined that the services provided by the Abu Dhabi Police for the elderly include health education through training courses for housewives on the proper ways to care for elderly bedridden patients. “These courses also include first-aid training on how to deal with cases of fractures, slipping, choking and fainting spells of people with diabetes, strokes, heart attacks and acute asthma,” he noted.
Colonel Al Ameri indicated that the number of reported cases of elderly people over 65 years who were transferred by the Abu Dhabi Police Ambulance during the past three years amounted to 5,554 cases. In 2013 and 2012, the total number of cases transported by ambulance was 1,711 and 1,939 cases respectively, representing 8.42% and 8.5% of the total number of injured persons. In 2015, the number of elderly transferred to hospitals by ambulance amounted to 1,904 persons to date.
Furthermore, Colonel Al Ameri highlighted the services provided by the Central Operations Room at Abu Dhabi Police via the emergency service “999”to the elderly people, by responding promptly to all of their calls; the “Taresh” service that allows them to renew their driving licenses and vehicle registrations without the hassle of visiting the department, among other services across all police departments. Moreover, Colonel Al Ameri also emphasized the support provided to this segment of society by the customer service staff members, who receive the transaction and process it promptly, and provide the elderly with a wheelchair if necessary.
Colonel Al Ameri underscored the keenness of the Abu Dhabi Police to raise awareness of the elderly about traffic safety, by participating in citizens’ councils to provide awareness messages and traffic safety lectures, movies and illustrations on all aspects of road safety. “Through such participations, we reiterate our commitment to safeguard customs and traditions, provide traffic safety for all segments of society, particularly the elderly and people with special needs, by giving them right of way”, he noted. He also pointed out that the Abu Dhabi Police endeavors to spread the culture of traffic law respect amongst the various segments of the society, in addition to the lectures on elderly care organized by the Department of Emergency and Safety at the Directorate General of Central Operations.
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The Arabic-language text of this announcement is the official, authoritative version. Translations are provided as an accommodation only, and should be cross-referenced with the Arabic-language text, which is the only version of the text intended to have legal effect.
Contacts
The UAE Minister of Interior's General Secretariat, Tactical Affairs and Security Media Department
Abu Dhabi Police GHQ - Security Media
Chris Cron +971-(0)-50-666-4891
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