UAE: Police Launch 'Kindness' Plan For Elderly People

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (The Khaleej Times), June 9, 2006: As part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Dubai Police, an official team will visit the elderly people in the Rashidya area as part of its ‘Treat your parents with kindness’ programme implemented by the Rashidya Police station. Major Abdul Qadir Mohamed AL Banay, Director of Elderly Centre at Rashidiya Police Station, said that the programme provided special care to elderly who don’t have family or children or any other person to take care of them. He said that the social service and human rights department at Rashidya Police Station visited the houses of the elderly in the area. “We found that some of the families had no ability to take care of them so we have coordinated with the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Department of Health and Medical services to take care of them,” he observed. The Dubai Municipality has taken over maintainance of their houses and was helping in constructing additional building for the needy. The Biet Al Khair charity organisation and the Dubai Ruler's Court have also provided them with assistance. Al Banay said that the assistance programme was not restricted to any category of people or nationality. “We are working day and night to help the elderly,” he said, adding, “we signed agreement with an electronic service company to install alarm system in the elderly people’s houses with direct connection with the operation room of the Dubai police so that they can be helped in emergency.” Police patrols have been provided with a map which showing the houses of the elderly who are registered. The number of elderly so far registered include 5 men and 4 women. © 2006 Khaleej Times All Rights Reserved.