Male' City Council has decided to gather information on persons with disabilities who reside in the Male' region.
During today's city council meeting, it was decided to visit individual areas and gather information on persons with disabilities in order to draw up plans to improve their quality of life, to make arrangements in providing service conveniently and make Male' a city that is inclusive and safe.
While speaking on the matter during the meeting, South Hulhumale' Constituency Councilor Ahmed Ghalib said that it is important the council has information on persons with disabilities and that it needs to be done as soon as possible.
According to Ghalib, the reason it is important is because his constituency has a lot of social housing flats and because they do not have elevators, individuals with disabilities who live there experience difficulties.
While highlighting that persons with disabilities are living under very difficult circumstances, Ghalib said that some of them live on the third floor of their buildings, and that it is difficult for them to go down to the ground floor for important matters.
And so, he hopes that they can find a solution to these issues while gathering their information.
Central Maafannu Constituency Councilor Aishath Hana stated that having the information of all persons with disabilities in every constituency will make it easier to provide aid in their time of need.
She said that some elderly people find it difficult to procure online services, and that this effort would result in making it easier for them to procure aid from places such as National Social Protection Agency (NSPA).
"Not everyone knows how to use a phone or navigate an application. It is difficult to get them to use these services. Having all their information will help us identify the type of assistance they need," Hana said.
North Hulhumale' Constituency Councilor Fathimath Zahiyya (Zaya) also said her constituency has a lot of individuals with disabilities. She said that there are difficulties in bringing them out of their flats when a situation such as the electricity going out occurs.
Zahiyya said she received complaints about the mosque near Hiyaa Park being closed down, stating that it has caused the elderly people and persons with disabilities in the area difficulties.
The council has made a submission to the Committee on Social Affairs and will be presenting a plan to move forward on the matter during their next council sitting.
