Keef Shaifha: New stations under the title “Social and health services provided during the Corona pandemic for people with disabilities”
As part of the activities of the second season of Wasla project, which is implemented by the Social Development Forum in partnership with the Medical Aid Society for Palestinians, 25 young male and female from Wasla program set out on a tour “How do you see it?” to learn about the most prominent social services for rehabilitation and protection, health services and information provided to people with disabilities during the Corona pandemic, to find the extent of inclusiveness of persons with disabilities in light of these exceptional circumstances and to come up with recommendations that contribute to securing their rights as an essential component of Palestinian society.
The first stop of the tour was with the Palestinian Medical Relief Society, which is one of the largest health NGOs in Palestine. During the visit, the team learned about the most prominent rehabilitation services provided by the association during the Corona pandemic, how the association was able to overcome the obstacles left by this pandemic and the treatments available to those registered in the Covid-19 vaccine.
Ministry of Social Development, was the second station, where the youth also learned about the services provided by the ministry during the Corona pandemic and the extent of the involvement of persons with disabilities in the plans and programs of the ministry in which it works in times of emergency, and the measures it takes to facilitate their access to the services provided.
Ghassan Felfel, Director of the Rehabilitation Department for Persons with Disabilities at the Ministry of Social Development, expressed the importance of involving young people in accountability sessions with decision-makers, saying: “Young people are the main component in society and the first engine of the wheel of change, and their participation in listening sessions with the Ministry and others. Government agencies would contribute significantly to developing their capabilities and also helping us to know their recommendations, listen to their questions and discuss them constructively so that together we can make an effective positive change.”
Updating the data of persons with disabilities on a comprehensive database, aligning the headquarters of the Ministry of Development to facilitate access to it by persons with disabilities, dealing with the issue of persons with disabilities with a comprehensive human rights approach, then they concluded their tour with coordinating with the Ministry of Health to put persons with disabilities on the hierarchy of priorities for vaccination are the most prominent recommendations submitted by the participants to the Ministry.
Fadi Abu Shakra, one of the tour participants, expressed his experience, saying: “A new experience as it is the first time for me to participate in listening sessions with decision-makers and talk extensively about people with disabilities and their demands, to end up making recommendations. I hope I will repeat this experience also hoping that our tour will have a positive effect and our recommendations are taken into consideration.”
Walaa Karajeh – Wasla Project Coordinator expressed that: “ Keef Shaifha” comes as one of the tools through which we work to enhance dialogue with formal and informal decision-makers and deepen societal accountability that the forum worked to develop through Wasla program and other major programs.”