The Ministry of Social Development (MoSD) is running a summer programme at branches of Al Wafa Centre for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities in various governorates of the sultanate in efforts to support the capabilities and skills of people with disabilities. 

In a statement, the ministry said, ‘The summer programme will continue until July 13. It aims to develop talent of people with disabilities in various fields, and mitigate the psychological and social effects resulting from the spread of COVID-19.’ 

The programme also aims to help parents encourage the skills and meet the needs of their children with disabilities at home, besides educating workers at these centres about the medical and health aspects to be followed during the pandemic. Additionally, it has instructions on how to entertainment and bring joy to people with disabilities. 

The 2020 e-census indicates that there were 42,304 Omanis with disabilities – 1.55 per cent of citizens or 15.5 per thousand of the Omani population. 

The highest rate of prevalence of disabilities was registered Dhahirah governorate  – 18.5 per thousand – while the lowest was in Al Wusta – 10.1 per thousand – according to the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI).

The 2020 data indicates that 36.6 per cent of the people with disabilities live in seven wilayats across the sultanate – Seeb, Sohar, Suwaiq, Ibri, Saham, Rustaq and Salalah.