Sharjah: The emirate of Sharjah is to be recognised as ‘Accessible City for the Physically Disabled’ in October by the World Federation of Disabled, it was announced on Wednesday.
The title will be officially declared during the World Cities Day at the United Nations in New York on October 31.
For the past 38 years, Sharjah has been offering various services for people of determination, especially in transport sector. Over the years, it has worked to achieve highest international standards on this count and since the opening of the regional office of the World Federation of the Disabled in Sharjah in 2013, the emirate has consciously pursued the goal of declaring itself a city that is friendly to people of determination.
Since the launch of the World Federation of the Disabled Regional Office in Sharjah, the office has conducted field visits to all government entities and private institutions to inform them of engineering standards designed for the physically challenged and have them adopt these standards in future projects or incorporate them into existing ones.
Evaluation
An evaluation committee, representing a number of countries from around the world, visited a host of government departments, leisure destinations, and places offering access to transport and communications, besides some internal roads, educational institutions, hospitals and clinics and museums to examine their compliance with the standards of the World Federation of the Disabled.
The committee gave the emirate three years to make the necessary adjustments and changes and based on the emirate’s commitment to all necessary criteria, it decided to grant Sharjah the coveted title of the ‘Accessible City for the Physically Disabled.’
Recognition hailed
The recognition has been hailed as a historic step towards empowerment by top officials and heads of various government entities.
Thabit Salem Obaid Al Tarifi Al Shamsi, Director General of Sharjah Municipality, emphasised that the municipality has initiated a number of services, facilities and initiatives for people of determination.
Major General Saif Mohammad Al Zari Al Shamsi, Commander-in-Chief of Sharjah Police also lauded the emirate’s leadership and various entities for their concern and commitment for people of determination. He said Sharjah Police General Headquarters has also initiated a number of measures and launched a number of initiatives to support this section of society.
