RIYADH, 6 November 2003 — Prince Sultan ibn Salman, chairman of the Disabled Children Association (DCA), received a check for SR1 million from Sheikh Abdullatif ibn Hamad Al-Jabr, chairman of the Arab National Bank (ANB), here on Monday night.
The money was given as part of an ongoing charity program sponsored by the bank in support of disabled children. The donation brings the total amount raised by the ANB for disabled children to SR21 million.
Speaking on the occasion, Prince Sultan said that the ANB-DCA link in the charity program serves as “an excellent example of the cooperation that Saudi national organizations, companies and banks can extend to the charitable works.”
He said that a trust constituted for the care of disabled children planned to build specialized rehabilitation centers for handicapped children in the Eastern Province and Hail.
Prince Sultan also said that a panel was being set up to recognize the services of scientists who have made outstanding contributions in the prevention of children’s disabilities and treatment.
He also thanked the ANB for its continued assistance to the DCA’s rehabilitation program. He said that the initiative of the bank gave an opportunity for everyone to help the association and contribute to its philanthropic work.
The DCA is working to reorganize its operation, decentralize management, build international partnerships and open new DCA chapters in the Kingdom. The move to open more facilities is significant in view of the fact that some 10 to 15 percent of Saudis suffer from a disability. Of this number, nearly 18 percent suffer from disabilities because of genetic factors.
According to a DCA report, the organization has already instituted two prizes for individuals who have made outstanding contributions in the fields of disability research, service and rehabilitation. The DCA has set up four chapters in Makkah, Jeddah, Madinah and Al-Jouf in which a large number of Saudi children are enrolled for treatment and therapy. The centers have world-class facilities including occupational therapy, speech pathology units and nursing departments.
More and more facilities for DCA chapters in the Kingdom are being added with the help of various organizations. Last year, Saudi Research and Marketing Group (SRMG), which publishes Arab News, signed an agreement with DCA for providing media services for the next five years.
