“I announce that the Madinah province is friendly to people with special needs,” Prince Abdul Aziz said at a function in Madinah attended by President of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities Prince Sultan bin Salman, Secretary-General of the Prince Sultan Charity Foundation Prince Faisal bin Sultan and Chairman of the Executive Committee of Ensan Charitable Society for the Care of Orphans Prince Faisal bin Salman.
The function was organized on the occasion of the seventh meeting of the Founders of the Prince Salman Center for Disability Research (PSCDR) in Madinah on Saturday.
Prince Abdul Aziz said steps would be taken shortly to enable disabled people to get their rights in full.
While speaking on the occasion Prince Sultan bin Salman, who is also chairman of PSCDR’s board of trustees, said the Arriyadh Development Authority allocated 7,233 square meters of land to the PSCDR where investments worth SR65 million are being planned. The income from the investment would be for the center’s research and other charity services.
Prince Sultan said the PSCDR has been striving to make disabled people active and productive members of the society.
Prince Sultan said its achievements included evolving a national system for the care of the disabled, saving hundreds of children from future disability through a scheme for early detection of congenital defects. The center has also prepared more than 40 research studies related to disability issues.
Prince Sultan also commended the services offered by the late Crown Prince Sultan through the PSCDR and other charity organizations in the field of disability care.
He also welcomed new members to the Founders of PSCDR, saying that he expected the number of new members to reach 119 this year.
Prince Abdul Aziz thanked Defense Minster Prince Salman who founded the PSCDR and called on businessmen to join the Founders of the PSCDR.
“We are living in an environment of joint charitable activities with the lead role taken by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and Crown Prince Naif, deputy premier and minister of interior,” Prince Abdul Aziz said.
Speaking to the press on the occasion of the general assembly meeting of the Founders of PSCDR, Prince Faisal bin Sultan said the Kingdom has been experiencing a quality shift in the care of disabled persons, including their rights, treatment and protection under the leadership of King Abdullah.
“It is a matter of immense pride that our government and charity organizations take excellent care of the disabled. It also signifies a total cultural awakening taking place in the Kingdom,” Prince Faisal said.
During the meeting, the PSCDR signed agreements with universities and government departments in the province to implement the “Total Reach Project,” as it did in the provinces of Riyadh, Makkah and the Eastern Province. The project aims to offer comprehensive services to every disabled person in the province.
The signatories included the Madinah Provincial Council, the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques, Taibah University, Madinah municipality and the Madinah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The meeting also organized an exhibition on the latest research projects implemented by the PSCDR.
Another pavilion highlighted the sufferings of disabled children so that the public becomes aware of the significance of implementing the Total Reach Project.
