New Drop-in Centre to be built at Sophia

Feb 07, 2017 News

Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally, says land has been acquired for the construction of a

Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally

new Drop-in Centre at Sophia. Minister Ally told the Government Information Agency, that since her assumption to office, she has been working to move ahead with the construction of the facility to properly cater for vulnerable children.
“Since I’ve come to this Ministry I have been able to secure a piece of land where we are going to build the Drop-in Centre. We are currently awaiting the paper work to be done so that we can go ahead with the construction,” Minister Ally explained.
The Minister explained that the current building was proven inadequate to house vulnerable children. It lacked the required facilities and space.
Ally said once completed, the new building will accommodate children and three families and will have all the necessary amenities and safety features.
In July 2016, the Drop-in Centre at Hadfield Street,was destroyed by a fire which claimed the lives of brothers; six year old Joshua George and two year old Antonio George.
The preliminary report on the fire found that the centre had systematic problems and bad policy arrangements for fire.
Meanwhile, plans are also moving apace for the construction of a shelter for victims of Domestic and Sexual abuse. The shelter will be constructed in the compound of the Mahaica Hospital.
Minister Ally explained that the design has been completed and the ministry is currently awaiting approval from the Islamic Development Bank for the project to commence.
Ally said the shelter will be able to accommodate 20 families or about 100 persons; mainly survivors of domestic violence.
“At the end of the day when you’re finished doing all the different things what next? What do you do with the survivors? There must be a place to shelter them and that is what we’re working towards,” Minister Ally underlined.
Ally said her Ministry is also working on several rolled over projects including the rehabilitation on the Palms and the Ministry’s Cornhill Street location among others.
Additionally, the Ministry is constructing sidewalks at probation officers’ offices in Regions Five and Six so as to allow easier access.
From the $16.6B allocated for the Social Protection Ministry in the 2017 National Budget, $20M will be used for preliminary works on the Sophia Drop-in Centre and $4M for the construction of the domestic violence centre.

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