Photo has been used for illustrative purposes.

Jamil Khan, Senior Reporter

The Ministry of Community Development has launched the initiative “Rest assured” to support the People of Determination, parents and staff, educate the community members about comprehensive response of the People of Determination in the current circumstances in order to achieve a safe and fast response to the social reality changes and conditions.

Nasser Ismail, Assistant Undersecretary for Social Welfare at the Ministry of Community Development, stressed that the initiative “Rest assured” reflects the directives of the UAE wise leadership to disseminate peace and positivity among Emiratis and residents during the current crisis, pointing out that the People of Determination are highly appreciated by the UAE government. As such, the initiative promotes and achieves support for the People of Determination, especially in different circumstances and assures the quality of their needs depending on their types of disabilities.

He said “The ‘Rest assured’ initiative consists of 5 core programmes with multiple objectives and methods to respond to the demands of the People of Determination, parents and staff, and raise the community awareness of the pandemic, taking into account the needs of the People of Determination, enabling all concerned categories to communicate, interact and take the initiative to provide the best for People of Determination wherever they are, based on national, community and development responsibility and maintaining the People of Determination in an interactive and supportive environment.

Wafa Hamad Bin Sulaiman, Director of Welfare & Rehabilitation Department for People of Determination, explained that core programme one of the initiative “Rest assured” provides a “home psychological aid kit to support the People of Determination during crisis; the initiative introduces the community to the effects of crisis on children of determination who have different disabilities, understanding the causes of non-adaptive behaviour that appears among children during home quarantine, and thus providing a comprehensive vision of intervention and treatment according to each individual case.”

The Director of Welfare & Rehabilitation Department for People of Determination noted that the psychiatric aid bag is a response to the psychological changes children are going through in crisis whatever they are but can be adapted to any pressures that the People of Determination may face during any crisis, natural or health disasters and sudden changes that can affect children’s lives, to help them rebalance their lives and adapt to emergency situations.