Social care initiatives to improve quality of life

DUBAI - Social care initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life of the people in the UAE and promoting better inter-community relationships were discussed at a meeting in Dubai attended by Japanese Consul-General Hiroyasu Kobayashi and officials of the Community Development Authority (CDA).

By Lily B. Libo-on

Published: Sun 3 Aug 2008, 1:26 AM

Last updated: Sun 5 Apr 2015, 4:59 PM

The meeting also provided an opportunity for the authority to gain knowledge and know-how in the social services sector by benchmarking best practices from around the world.

Dr Mariam Matar, CDA Director-General, presented the authority's plans to improve community development programmes and services in Dubai and discussed ways of increasing social interaction of Japanese residents with the Dubai community.

During the meeting, the officials discussed the newly developed CDA, its different departments and objectives as well as Japan's social services and the key success factors to be considered.

"At this stage in our structural development, it is very important that we develop strong bonds with internationally recognised care-oriented systems such as Japan's social care system so that we can learn from them and use their experience to better develop our own activities and programmes," said Dr Mariam Matar.

Japan ranks eighth in the 2007-08 Human Development Index (HDI) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with a number of initiatives that cater to the needs of the different categories of the society with the aim of creating a more harmonious community.

"Our goal is for Dubai to develop a similarly dynamic social system, in which all relations are based on tolerance, openness to other cultures, family and inter-generational ties and sharing a sense of commitment," she added.

The CDA is a Dubai government authority that was recently launched to set up and develop frameworks for social development in line with the social objectives of the government as highlighted in the Dubai Strategic Plan 2015, announced by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on February 3, 2007.

lilly@khaleejtimes.com