From Arab News July 3:
JEDDAH -- Prince Sultan bin Salman, chairman of the board of trustees of the Prince Salman Center for Handicap Research (PSCHR), yesterday emphasized the government’s efforts to prevent disability in the Kingdom by conducting premarital medical tests, early detection of diseases and awareness programs.
Speaking to reporters after signing an agreement with the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) for technical assistance, Sultan noted the center’s contribution toward improving the lives of many disabled children.
He urged IDB President Dr. Ahmed Muhammad Ali to start a special program to provide training, jobs and soft loans to the disabled whom he described as “people of special abilities instead of special needs.”
The IDB chief welcomed the proposal and said the Poverty-Alleviation Fund’s microfinance program would address the needs of the disabled.
Under the agreement, the IDB will provide a grant of $250,000 to PSCHR to develop an interactive website for the center’s family village.
Prince Sultan, who is also secretary-general of the General Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, said handicap cases in the Kingdom were decreasing as a result of government intervention, early detection of cases, preventive measures and better care.
“We are now in the process of organizing a major awareness campaign in association with Saudi Telecom Company in order to prevent disability,” he said.
“The disabled are no more considered a burden on family or society as a result of rehabilitation efforts and awareness campaigns,” the prince said.
“We have made a lot of efforts to break into the minds and brains of people to enhance their awareness on taking care of the disabled,” Prince Sultan
said.
He revealed plans to hold a global conference on handicap prevention in the first quarter of 2009 with the participation of experts from all over the world.
The prince said the deal with the IDB would expand the center’s activities in the Islamic world.
