Public Awareness Vital For Ensuring Social Welfare: Minister

In an assessment meeting conducted in Anseba, Gash-Barka and Central regions, the Minister of Labor and Human Welfare, Ms. Salma Hassen, called on all bodies of the Ministry to engage in enhancing public awareness so as to promote participation on ensuring social welfare. Asmara, 26 December 2010 – In an assessment meeting conducted in Anseba, Gash-Barka and Central regions, the Minister of Labor and Human Welfare, Ms. Salma Hassen, called on all bodies of the Ministry to engage in enhancing public awareness so as to promote participation on ensuring social welfare.

Pointing out that the program of rehabilitating needy citizens and promoting their capacity is community-based, the Minister called for the introduction of effective work methods to assist citizens to become self-supporting and enhance their contribution in the nation’s development projects.

According to reports presented in the meetings, over 120 million Nakfa have been paid to families of fallen heroes in Central and Gash-Barka regions, in addition to the payment of 6 million Nakfa donated by nationals residing abroad to the same cause in 2010. A total of 35 million Nakfa interest-free loan has been disbursed to over 700 disabled and needy citizens in Anseba region, the report added.

Likewise, about 24 million Nakfa interest-free loan has been made available to more than 880 disabled citizens in the Central region, and that similar loans were also disbursed in the Gash-Barka region.

The participants of the meeting adopted a number recommendations and resolutions including applying serious measures regarding ensuring the safety of workers and conducting campaigns for employees to work in rural areas, among others.

Reports disclosed that an agreement was reached to supervise the various assistance made to needy nationals, strengthening community-based rehabilitation activities, conducting constant campaigns to combat traditional harmful practices and other related programs in 2011.