The representation office of Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) in Somalia has recently completed a project to furnish and operate a health centre for persons with disability (PWDs) in Garowe, Puntland.
The new centre serves 2,250 persons with special needs, with QR 1,168,475 funding from the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs’ General Department of Endowments (Awqaf).
The opening ceremony was attended by Dr Mohamed Salah Ibrahim, director of Relief and International Development Division at QRCS, Ahmed Elmi Osman, Vice-President of Puntland, and many ministers and local officials.
In his opening speech, Dr Ibrahim stated: “Phase 1 had commenced in 2016, with the start of construction works, in co-operation with Puntland Ministry of Women Development and Family Affairs. In Phase 2, launched in 2022 for one year, we provided medical/rehabilitation equipment and furniture for the centre to do its job, and then will support staff with physiotherapy training. This will help PWDs to recover, depend on themselves, and improve their lives.
“According to statistics of the Somali Disability Network, there are more than 14,000 PWDs in Puntland alone. We are determined to continue and develop such projects, to reach out to more and more PWDs, a vulnerable group of priority for humanitarian interventions. We welcome all our local and international partners to address this problem together”.
