The Family Affairs Committee and the Health, Labour and Social Affairs Committee of the Sharjah Consultative Council visited the branches of the Social Services Department of the Government of Sharjah in the Central Region, including the branches of Al Bataeh, Al Dhaid, Maliha and Al Madam. The visit, which took place yesterday morning, came within the framework of the work of the Advisory Council for the second regular session of the eleventh legislative term. The delegation was headed by Saeed Matar bin Hamed Al Tunaiji, Chairman of the Family Affairs Committee, and attended by Halima Hamid Al Owais, Vice Chairman of the Council, and from the Family Affairs Committee Rashid Ghanem Al Shamsi, Rapporteur of the Committee, Abdullah Al Badawi Al Hosani, Abdullah bin Ma’dan Al Ketbi, Abdullah bin Tarish Al Kaabi, Hamid Obaid Al Hamoudi, and Dr. Hind Al Hajri, Member of the Health, Labor and Social Affairs Committee, and from the General Secretariat of the Council Huda Al Hammadi, Secretary, and Dr. Islam Al Shiwi, Media Expert, accompanied by members of the Council, including Rashid Ghanem Al Shamsi, Rapporteur of the Committee, and Dr. Hind Al Hajri, Member of the Health Affairs Committee, in addition to Halima Al Owais, Vice Chairman of the Council, Huda Al Hammadi, Secretary, and Dr. Islam Al Shiwi, Media Expert. On behalf of the Social Services Department, the delegation was received by Abdullah Ali bin Huwaiden, Director of the Department’s branches in the Central Region, the directors of the branches in the Central Region, and the working cadres, each at his headquarters. The four visits to the department’s branches in the central region included a comprehensive review of the services provided in each branch, which aim to achieve social stability and enhance the quality of life for citizens. The Advisory Council committees learned about the health and treatment services that include home care, provision of medicines, treatment of chronic conditions, and physical therapy provided to care recipients, in addition to social support programs and empowerment of target groups of women, children, and the elderly, and the disbursement of social support and follow-up of families. Saeed Matar bin Hamed Al Tunaiji, Chairman of the Family Affairs Committee of the Consultative Council, expressed the importance of following up on social performance to enhance the quality of services and ensure their comprehensiveness. He said: This visit, which is being held within the plans of the Family Affairs Committee and the Health Affairs Committee for the second regular session of the eleventh legislative term, is an important opportunity to strengthen the relationship with those in charge of these branches and closely follow up on their work, in order to shed light on the efforts made in providing social and health services that contribute directly to serving the community and caring for individual families. He pointed out that the series of visits to the branches of the Social Services Department represents a step towards enhancing constructive cooperation between various governmental and community entities, ensuring the improvement of the quality of services and their development in line with the aspirations and growing needs of the community, in accordance with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and the follow-up of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Muhammad Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah. With the first visits to the branch of the Social Services Department in Al Bataeh area, the delegation of the Sharjah Consultative Council was briefed on the programs for empowering women and families, in addition to providing comprehensive support to productive families and the elderly. They were introduced to the system of services provided by the Social Services Department in the Al Bataeh branch in serving the elderly and bedridden, home visits and what is provided to citizens under the constant guidance of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, to care for citizens, serve them and reach them, in addition to touring the building and following up on the services, health care and treatment facilities provided to citizens who receive social services. In the branch of the Social Services Department in the city of Dhaid, the branch managers provided an overview of the efforts made to provide home care and activate volunteer initiatives, in addition to handling child protection reports in effective coordination with the relevant authorities. They provided an overview of the various services, and the members were informed about the various services provided in terms of psychological, medical and therapeutic care, in addition to the excellence of these services, which are provided to them in a family atmosphere. The members of the Advisory Council were also informed about the aspects of medical care and physical therapy for patients. As for the branch of the Social Services Department in the Maliha area, the branch managers discussed the plans and programmes that continue around the clock to provide additional support for psychological and social care services for children, especially those affected by family challenges. The staff of the Maliha branch also pointed out what is provided in the branch, similar to the various branches of the department, in terms of social support, monthly cash assistance, social recovery through relief, urgent intervention, social support, and coordination of social assistance with other parties, in addition to social care and protection services. During a visit to the branch of the Social Services Department in Al Madam, the branch’s staff reviewed the work carried out around the clock to serve citizens, and the roles it plays in enhancing and developing community cohesion and continuing to carry out various specializations related to protection and social care, as well as social specializations, disbursing aid, and organizing therapeutic visits to citizens in their homes. The members were briefed on the various services provided, the aspects of therapeutic and health care, and the daily follow-up provided by the branch to residents of the Madam area. During the four tours of the branches, the Advisory Council met a number of citizens benefiting from the department’s services, and listened to their opinions and suggestions regarding the quality of the services provided. Citizens praised the role of the Social Services Department in achieving social solidarity and providing a supportive and integrated environment.