19th Scientific Forum for People with Disabilities opens

Manama, Apr. 10 (BNA): His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Deputy President of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports and Honorary President of Bahrain Sports Federation for Disabilities deputised H.E Jameel bin Mohammed Humaidan, Minister of Labour and Social Development, to open the 19th Scientific Forum for People with Disabilities, organised from April 9 to April 11 at the Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence and Spa. Themed "Disabilities Sports: Challenge and Ambition", the forum is organised under the patronage of His Highness by the Gulf Disability Society in cooperation with the National Institute for the Disabled. The opening ceremony was attended by H.E Shaikh Duaij bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Honorary President of the Gulf Disability Society and President of National Institute for the Disabled, as well as a number of community figures and institutions, concerned local and Gulf associations and individuals, people with disabilities and their families, individuals working in the field of the education and rehabilitation of people with disabilities, community service activists, academics and specialists in the field of psychology and education of people with disabilities. On the occasion, HH Shaikh Khalid stated: "The Kingdom of Bahrain is a role model in the field of supporting and caring for people with disabilities through the leading strides it took to provide decent living of this category and its efforts dedicated to their integration with the community as active role-players in the development of the homeland." His Highness also said: "Under the prosperous rule of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Bahrain has successfully achieved many accomplishments in the fields of supporting people with disabilities in education, health, sports and other areas." HH Shaikh Khalid highlighted the selected slogan of the forum, focusing on the important role of encouraging the disabled to take part in sports activities, which have positive impacts on their lives and at the same time serve the efforts dedicated to discovering and supporting talented individuals of this category in different sports. "We are proud of them, and their determination and confident of their abilities to continue excelling in all fields. We wish them success and to achieve more accomplishments," His Highness commented, while praising the Gulf Disability Society for its keenness on annually organising the forum, which benefits people with disabilities on all levels. On his part, the Minister of Labour and Social Development underscored the remarkable steps taken by the Kingdom in caring and supporting people with disabilities and ensuring their protection and social equality. The Labour and Social Development Minister thanked HH Shaikh Khalid for His Highness’s endless care and support to this category of the Bahraini community. He also mentioned that the ministry is concerned of providing multiple services to people with disabilities such as financial support, provision of education, training and employment opportunities, and other rehabilitation, social, entertainment, psychological and healthcare services. In the opening ceremony, speeches were delivered highlighting the unified GCC efforts and strategies to support people with disabilities in GCC States and embrace them as essential members in the development process in their homelands. The forum will shed light on the success stories of the disabled in GCC and Arab States in the field of sports and will discuss the laws and legislations to support them to achieve equality for them in all fields.