12-06-2021

His Excellency Mr. Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, Minister of Labour and Social Development, affirmed that the Ministry is closely monitoring the pace of construction for new social facilities in line with the objectives and themes of the government’s (2019–2022) programme, which aims to meet development needs across the Kingdom’s governorates. He added that work is ongoing to implement six new construction projects, in co-operation and coordination with the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning, to continue providing diverse services to all segments of society. These projects seek to facilitate citizens’ access to services near their residential areas in the easiest and fastest way possible. They include the Comprehensive Disability Complex in A’ali, the Social Services Complex in Isa Town, the Social Welfare Complex in Hamad Town, the Budaiya Comprehensive Social Centre, and a comprehensive social centre in the Capital Governorate. A day club for parental care will also be established at the Jidhafs Social Centre. Humaidan stated that these projects aim to meet citizens’ needs and improve the quality and level of development services provided by the government, particularly for Persons with Disabilities (People of Determination) and senior citizens. They also address families’ requirements in terms of assistance, care, and social rehabilitation. He thanked all partners and supporters of these development projects, including the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) for funding the construction of the Comprehensive Disability Complex, the Social Welfare Complex in Hamad Town, and the Social Services Complex in Isa Town. He also thanked Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (ALBA) for covering most of the Budaiya Comprehensive Social Centre cost, and Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo for its initiative to finance the construction and furnishing of a comprehensive social centre in Manama. The Comprehensive Disability Complex is one of the largest specialised centres providing care and rehabilitation for Persons with Disabilities (People of Determination) in a single location, spanning approximately 20,000 square metres. It consists of 10 buildings offering treatment, care, education, and rehabilitation services for Persons with Disabilities, such as those with Down syndrome, deafness, autism, brain damage, and mental illness. The project is funded by KFAED under the Gulf Development Programme, and work is underway to complete furnishing and equipping the complex. The Social Welfare Complex in Hamad Town, implemented with KFAED support under the Gulf Development Programme, aims to provide the best social, psychological, and health care services through specialised social care centres and Residential Care Centers. The project includes six residential buildings, including the Juvenile Care Home (for boys and girls), Dar Al-Aman for those exposed to domestic violence and human trafficking (for men and women), Dar Al-Karama for Social Care, and a shared services building. Construction is expected to be completed in January 2022. The Social Services Complex project in Isa Town, also implemented as part of the Gulf Development Programme with KFAED support, involves reconstructing and equipping existing centres with advanced buildings in the Isa Town area. These comprise six buildings, including a nursing home for the elderly, a social centre, and an academic and vocational rehabilitation centre for Persons with Disabilities, as well as a shared services building. In addition to the development of the Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait (BBK) Rehabilitation Centre for Persons with Disabilities and the kindergarten building. Operation is expected in the second half of 2022. The Budaiya Comprehensive Social Centre project aims to provide social protection services with a capacity of 550 citizens per day. It offers various forms of social assistance, family counselling, and implementation of court rulings to accommodate children of divorced parents. It also monitors all needs of Bahraini families through comprehensive field social research and offers family development programmes. The centre includes a daytime social club for senior citizens and another for children and youth, providing services in child development. It will further serve job seekers through an Employment and Training Office, offering vocational guidance and counselling, and unemployment insurance services. The Jidhafs Parents’ Daytime Club has been established at the Jidhafs Social Centre, with a capacity of more than 100 elderly men and women. Work is currently underway to engage a civil society organisation to manage it, similar to other daytime clubs established by the Ministry under the principle of effective community partnership. Based on the principle of public-private community partnership, it was decided to begin establishing a comprehensive social centre in the Capital Governorate. This centre will feature a celebration and events hall, a social day club for parental care, a section for productive families, and sections providing social research, family guidance, and social assistance services. It will also include childhood and family service sections, incubators for productive families, and a complex for home-based projects. The centre will operate alongside the Manama Social Centre located in Juffair.