Muscat – As part of its efforts to support people with disabilities, Ministry of Social Development (MoSD) has introduced several new initiatives.

The announcement was made during celebrations of International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Sunday held at Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre. The event was held under the patronage of H E Dr Madiha bint Ahmed al Shaibaniyah, Minister of Education.

On the occasion, Mohammed bin Ahmed al Mahrouqi, Director General of Directorate of Persons with Disabilities in MoSD, stated, “This celebration embodies the ministry’s vision of partnership with all public and private institutions, supporting and empowering this segment and highlighting the achievements made for it this year.”

He added that the ministry has launched several qualitative initiatives to promote the rights of persons with disabilities and empower them. One of these is the ‘Empowerment Initiative’ in Dhahirah aimed at improving the quality of programmes for this segment, expanding the base of beneficiaries and coordinating efforts among relevant authorities to provide integrated and comprehensive services.

Another notable project is ‘Employment of Persons with Disabilities in the Tourism Sector’ designed to create job opportunities that enhance their economic independence.

Additionally, the ministry announced ‘Creativity Competition’, which is set to launch in 2025. This initiative aims to discover talent and creative skills of people with disabilities, encourage innovation and raise community awareness of their capabilities.

The competition will be held every two years and focus on three main areas – art, literature and culture; tech innovation; and sports. The goal is to enhance competitiveness and support projects that improve the quality of life of people with disabilities and promote their integration into society.

Meanwhile, the National Committee for Care of Persons with Disabilities convened on Monday under H E Dr Laila bint Ahmed al Najjar, Minister of Social Development and Chairperson of the committee. The meeting focused on initiatives aimed at enhancing services and programmes for persons with disabilities, and discussed a total of 33 initiatives.

The committee also reviewed plans for the second forum for persons with disabilities, which is scheduled to be held in 2025 in North  Batinah. Additionally, discussions included a training programme designed for business owners and employees to facilitate integration of persons with disabilities into the workplace. The meeting further explored services and facilities currently available to support persons with disabilities.

According to the latest data released by National Centre for Statistics and Information, 69,000 persons with disabilities  – 41,000 males and 28,000 females – were registered in the country in September 2024.