RIYADH: More than 3,000 Saudis have benefitted from a pioneering initiative launched last week to give people with special needs improved access to government services and departments.
The Ministry of Labor and Social Development’s “Priority for Them” initiative focuses on four segments of society — the elderly, disabled, pregnant women and new mothers — giving them priority in waiting areas and queues to ensure better service.
The community awareness initiative, which kicked off on Wednesday, under the slogan “You are more worthy … Your well-being is our duty,” has helped thousands of people with special needs, according to Youssef bin Musafir Al-Sayali, the ministry’s director in Riyadh.
A mobile platform supervised by 15 ministry employees and volunteers from the Society for Physically Disabled Adults (Harakia) introduced sites that included King Khalid International Airport, King Saud Medical City hospital and Al-Makan Mall.
The initiative is one of a set of programs launched by the ministry to improve social services. According to the General Authority of Statistics in 2018, the plans could provide more than 5 million Saudi people with a fast track to essential services.
Saudi ministry’s priority access plan ‘helps thousands’
Saudi ministry’s priority access plan ‘helps thousands’
- The initiative is one of a set of programs launched by the ministry to improve social services
Saudi Red Crescent Authority in Al-Baha raises readiness to address weather issues
AL-BAHA: The Al-Baha branch of the Saudi Red Crescent Authority has raised its level of readiness to help address issues caused by the weather in the region.
The initiative is being implemented in accordance with the authority’s plan and with the aim of ensuring the provision of all necessary capabilities.
The authority has affirmed the readiness of its emergency centers and field teams. Some 19 ambulance teams and five rapid response teams have been allocated, in addition to the required equipment, ensuring prompt intervention and provision of highly efficient emergency services.
The authority has called on all residents in the region to adhere to the instructions of the competent authorities and follow the safety procedures during fog and low-visibility conditions. They should also comply with traffic safety regulations and directives issued by Civil Defense.
The emergency number 997 and the Asefni, Tawakkalna, and Absher applications are available around the clock in emergency situations, and members of the public are urged to make immediate contact when necessary.
