Minister pays tribute to elderly

11 : 53 AM - 25/03/2016 Manama, Mar. 25 (BNA): Under the patronage of Labour and Social Development Minister Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan, the Muharraq Parents’ Care Home recently held a celebration marking the Family Day. MP Jamal Bu Hassan, Board Chairman of the Good Word Society Hassan Bu Hazza, affiliates of the Muharraq Parents’ Care Home, the Labour Ministry’s officials and citizens attended the event. In a statement, the minister stressed the importance of marking the Family and Parents’ Care Day, noting that celebrating the two events together is an opportunity to highlight Bahrain’s experience in social care and activation of the social and economic role of the elderly to take advantage of their cumulative experience in this regard. Humaidan lauded the values of fidelity, love and giving prevailing in the Bahraini society, which, he said, is reflected in the appreciation and respect enjoyed by the parents in recognition of their dedicated efforts in the service of the nation. He called for the need to launch constructive initiatives to upgrade the quality of life of the elderly, and not just stop at expressing appreciation sentiments towards them. He pointed out that the elderly participated in the ministry’s pavilion in the Bahrain International Gardens Show (BIGS), held under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, Wife of His Majesty the King and President of the Supreme Council for Women, recently. They enriched the ministry’s participation with their visions and experience, he added. The minister highlighted the winning of the kingdom, represented by the Labour and Social Development Ministry, of the AGFUND International Prize for Pioneering Development Projects for Home Based-Business for its "Step Programme", noting that the exploit is a recognition of the kingdom’s outstanding human development capabilities. He affirmed that the ministry and the National Committee for the Elderly would continue enhancing elderly-related services through developing and implementing a strategy for the elderly, in line with the leadership’s constant keenness on ensuring welfare and social care for all citizens. Humaidan then honoured a number of the Muharraq Parents’ Care Home affiliates, alongside volunteers involved in elderly and parents care programmes.