Cairo: Jasour – News Desk
The National Council for Persons with Disabilities held a conference entitled “National Efforts to Include the Issues of Persons with Disabilities in the Implementation of National Strategies,” coinciding with Egypt and the world’s celebrations of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, with the attendance of a number of ministers and officials.
Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education, confirmed that the Ministry provides a large number of colleges, educational institutes and specialized programs in caring for people with disabilities, to graduate specialists capable of dealing with this segment and providing them with the necessary training, and teaching them ways to benefit from technology to overcome the limits of disability.
Ashour added, during his speech, that the “Tamkeen” initiative for higher education aims to integrate people with disabilities and involve them with their colleagues in various activities at the university. It is a presidential initiative supported and supervised by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, and aims to raise awareness of the rights and duties of people with disabilities within universities, and to build bridges of communication with the people of Egypt based on their right to obtain training opportunities.
Dr. Maya Morsi, Minister of Solidarity, said that the conference discusses an issue that cannot be limited to mere slogans or recommendations, but rather requires practical and continuous efforts that translate into a tangible reality in the lives of every person with disabilities and their families. They are not only beneficiaries of our programs, but also partners in achieving “Vision 2030” and the basic pillar in building a more inclusive and equitable society.
Mohamed Gebran, Minister of Manpower, confirmed that the new draft labor law included additional benefits for people with disabilities, and the state, since President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi took office, has paid special attention to them. He added: “The new law preserves the rights of people with disabilities, including increasing annual leave to 45 days, prohibiting discrimination against them, and not considering the benefits provided to them as discrimination. It also included integrating training for children with disabilities, in addition to focusing on specialized training courses in cooperation with social solidarity through mobile training centers and fixed centers.”
Dr. Ashraf Sobhi, Minister of Youth and Sports, praised the efforts of the National Council for Persons with Disabilities in this file, pointing out that the Council contributed to enhancing stability and social cohesion and meeting their needs by securing income, access to health care and inclusion within society, and the state has been supporting people with disabilities since 2014, in cooperation between the National Council and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
For her part, Dr. Abla Al-Alfy, Deputy Minister of Health, stressed the Ministry’s commitment to improving the quality of health services provided to people with disabilities, in line with the directives of the political leadership to achieve health justice and enhance their rights, because these people are an important part of society, and their access to health services appropriate to their needs is a fundamental right that requires concerted efforts to remove obstacles facing them and support them and their families.
Ambassador Nabila Makram, Head of the Technical Secretariat of the National Alliance, said that the political leadership was keen on the emergence of civil society in supporting the state in development efforts and maintaining sustainable development, noting that 2022 was declared the Year of Civil Society, adding that the state moved to give them the opportunity to be empowered.
And more agreements and great progressing curve is coming up with more support and facilities for equal opportunities to all special needs.
