The Ministry of Labour Human Services and Social Security hosted an outreach exercise at the Sans Souci Primary School in Wakenaam, aimed at informing residents of its available services.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release Minister of Labour Manzoor Nadir, a team of officials from the ministry and the Region Three administration told residents that government continues to work tirelessly to ensure that the lives of vulnerable persons are significantly enhanced through social programmes and safety net interventions.
Social services
Nadir told residents that the public assistance programme is aimed at helping persons who are in difficult circumstances for a period of time. “The programme is there for a purpose, for those who are facing some difficult period. …Once that person is… able to manage the programme will roll on to someone else who is in need,” he said. He also explained that persons are not removed from the list by whims and fancies.
“People have to show up for the half yearly review and if people don’t get to the review then their names are removed from the public assistance list,” Nadir said. The minister also said the programme has to be approved by the local board of guardian in the region and reviewed every six months.
In response to a question from a resident regarding persons who are incapacitated, Nadir explained that his ministry has put in place a policy whereby social services officers visit such persons at their homes. In addition to this, he said as part of the government’s commitment to further improve the position of single parents, beneficiaries of public assistance and old age pension, substantial amounts were allocated to the ministry to continue delivering its services in 201.
Nadir told residents that old age pensioners can apply for their pension two weeks after attaining the age of 65, as it takes some time to verify information received.
Health sector
Nadir also told residents “A national education programmes on chronic diseases will be launched by the Ministry of Health and I am hopeful that you and your children will learn more about high blood pressure and diabetes.” He said that while government spends billions of dollars annually to treat persons with chronic diseases, “the bigger issue is not about spending money to provide treatment, but prevention, educating people about healthy habits for a longer life.”
The team also addressed other issues such as dealing with unregistered births and the lack of proof documents for the national registration for the upcoming general elections.
Region Three Chairman Julius Faerber told residents about development plans for the island that were listed in the 2011 budget including the construction of a building to house the Sans Souci Nursery School, the erection of revetment on the embankment, road construction and drainage and irrigation works. Faerber said the new building is to accommodate the nursery level children who are being housed at the Neighbourhood Democratic Council office.
