Dr. Samah Hamad Discusses with the Birzeit Elderly Club Association Ways to Enhance Elderly Care and Develop Services Provided to Seniors
Minister of Social Development and Acting Minister of State for Relief Affairs, Dr. Samah Hamad, discussed today with representatives of the Birzeit Elderly Club Association ways to enhance care services provided to senior citizens, as well as mechanisms to develop joint cooperation to ensure the sustainability and improvement of these services.
The discussion took place during a meeting held at the ministry’s headquarters, attended by the Minister’s Advisor Doaa Wadi, Assistant Undersecretary for Family Care and Protection Affairs Akram Al-Hafi, along with several ministry employees and representatives from the Associations Department. Representing the association were Chairwoman of the Board Dr. Mai Al-Kaila, Club Director Najwa Khoury, and Vice Chairman of the Board Daoud Mansour Shaheen.
The meeting addressed the current status of the association and the services it provides to the elderly, in addition to the financial and administrative challenges it faces. Participants also discussed mechanisms to strengthen the partnership with the ministry in order to ensure the continuity and development of services.
The participants further discussed the legal status of the association and the procedures for transforming the club from a branch affiliated with a foreign association into an independent local association, as well as completing licensing procedures and opening a dedicated bank account. In addition, they reviewed the “service purchase” file related to care services provided to senior citizens and the move toward reactivating the agreement to ensure the continued provision of services within the community environment for the elderly. Legal issues related to outstanding financial dues and accumulated debts owed to the former foundations were also discussed, with efforts focused on finding appropriate legal solutions in cooperation with the relevant authorities.
Dr. Samah Hamad affirmed the ministry’s commitment to developing social care and protection services, noting that the ministry is working to regulate and develop the social services sector and follow up on the legal frameworks governing the work of institutions and social centers. She also highlighted ongoing efforts related to licensing and regulating psychological and social counseling professions and services to ensure the quality of services provided to target groups. She praised the humanitarian and community role played by the association in caring for the elderly and emphasized the ministry’s commitment to strengthening partnerships with local community institutions to serve the most vulnerable groups.
For their part, Chairwoman Dr. Mai Al-Kaila and Club Director Najwa Khoury reviewed the nature of the services provided by the association to senior citizens, stressing that the association continues to deliver its services despite financial challenges, thanks to the efforts of staff members and volunteers who continue working to ensure service continuity. They also highlighted the importance of partnerships with several Palestinian universities, especially Birzeit University, particularly in the fields of nursing and pharmacy, due to their role in supporting the health and social services provided to the elderly.
The meeting also addressed the ministry’s plan to expand the daytime care services model for senior citizens across the country through cooperation with local councils and municipalities, while benefiting from the experience of the Birzeit Elderly Club Association as a practical model in this field, within a broader effort to implement pilot projects in a number of local authorities.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the minister confirmed her intention to visit the association’s headquarters soon in preparation for signing the new “service purchase” agreement once the necessary legal procedures are completed, thereby enhancing the sustainability of care services provided to senior citizens.
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