Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) President Wilson Hon Wai said yesterday that the recent opening of the Family and Community Service Centre in Macau New Neighbourhood (MNN) residential estate in Zhuhai’s Hengqin has opened a new chapter in Macau’s social services integration into the overall development of the country, according to an IAS statement yesterday.
Hon made the remarks during a closed-door plenary session of the government-appointed Women and Children Affairs Committee at the Macau Cultural Centre (CCM) yesterday, which discussed health services for childbirth, maternal and children’s health, as well as gave an update on the work of the committee’s outreach programmes and exchange views on related policies.
Both the family and community service centre and the senior citizens’ service centre in the MNN neighbourhood started operating in June this year, run by the Macau Women’s General Association (known as Fu Luen in Cantonese) and the Macau General Union of Neighbourhood Associations (known as Kai Fong in Cantonese) respectively.
According to Hon, efforts are being made to promote the government’s “Macau Women’s Development Goals,” and plans are underway for a second set of goals to continue advancing women’s development, the statement said.
Regarding children’s affairs, a document summarising the current status of the government’s children’s policies has been completed, while representatives from the Health Bureau (SSM) also explained the government’s support for reproductive and maternal-child health services, covering aspects such as breastfeeding support, vaccination, and health checks for pregnant women and infants, the statement said.
Hon said his committee will continue to promote the right to civic participation under the “Convention on the Rights of the Child,” as well as pay special attention to issues concerning children, including children’s educational development, children’s welfare, children’s physical and artistic development, child protection and civic participation, as well as newly added topics like child friendly-environments and families, according to the statement.
The government-appointed Women and Children Affairs Committee holds this year’s second plenary meeting at the Macau Cultural Centre (CCM) yesterday. – Photo: IAS
