Last weekend, the Parliamentary Secretary for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Active Ageing Dr. Justyne Caruana, organised an ‘Informative Gozo Weekend’ to raise awareness of dementia, as well as the services offered for the disabled.

Opening the Seminar on dementia held on Friday, the Parliamentary Secretary said that the condition of dementia in Malta and Gozo is increasing in line with the rest of the world, and Gozo, with an ever-increasing elderly population, is particularly affected by this condition.

She also said that the Government is finalising the National Dementia Strategy, with the process of public consultations are now completed. Dr Caruana explained that Malta will be one of the first countries to adopt a National Plan on dementia and that, although this plan has not yet been published officially, work has already begun to increase the knowledge and services on the condition.

The Parliamentary Secretariat is organising training sessions for employees on awareness of the condition. It was also announced that the Secretariat will run an extensive awareness campaign with the Malta Dementia Society on a National basis. Following the seminar a Memory Walk took place with the participation of the Parliamentary Secretary Dr. Justyne Caruana.

On Saturday a seminar was held on services available for people with disabilities, Dr Justyne Caruana said it was crucial that Gozitans are fully informed of the services provided by the Government for the disabled. She explained the ongoing work to officially published the National Policy on the Rights of Persons with Disability. Dr Caruana also mentioned that a new office in Gozo for the Commission for Persons with Disability, has just been officially opened in Sannat.

This seminar included representatives from various entities in the disability sector, including the Support Agency, the National Commission Persons with Disability, representatives on the standards for residences of disabled people and policy on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

There were also representatives from the Church, from the legal field and local councils, as well as the Office of Guardianship Board which was opened recently by the Parliamentary Secretary.

Dr. Justyne Caruana thanked everyone who attended the seminars, thanks were given in particular to Mgr. Mario Grech Bishop for Gozo.

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