A new night shelter for the elderly in Gharb has been announced by the Parliamentary Secretary for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Active Ageing Justyne Caruana, during a visit to the premises of the Visitation Band of Gharb.
This will the second such shelter in Gozo, following on from the night shelter for the elderly which was inaugurated in Ghajnsielem last year.
The new shelter is being made possible through an agreement reached between the Secretariat, the Local Council and the Visitation Band Committee.
The project will be carried out through an initial capital investment by the Parliamentary Secretariat of € 200,000 and will also be operated by the Government with staff provided by them.
Dr Caruana explained the location of the night shelter will also be used for day services, for which it will provide activities related to the Lifelong Learning Programme as well as other services related to care of the elderly.
She added that the Parliamentary Secretariat, is implementing a strategy that aims to increase community services for the elderly on a national basis, to help them remain in the community and have less need for long-term care services.
Dr Caruana ended by thanking Mayor David Apap, the local Council and the Band for their commitment to this project in aid of the Gharb community and said that she hoped for more such cooperation in the future.
On his part the Mayor said that this shelter was very important, especially considering that the population of Gharb is becoming increasingly elderly, and he thanked the Parliamentary Secretary for undertaking this project in the village.