The Sapport Agency biennial report presented yesterday revealed a marked increase in service users in the period under review.

The agency provides community and residential services to disabled persons and their families. In its 2005/2006 report, Sapport registered a 33.75 per cent increase in the number of clients who received a community service and a 19.8 per cent increase over the previous two years was also noted in the number of interventions by the agency’s Social Work Service.

It was also noted that the agency’s residential homes at Kirkop, Fgura, Marsascala and Mtarfa maintained a constant capacity of 47 clients.

Family and Social Solidarity Minister Dolores Cristina said the government has been committed to provide a strong framework of assistance for persons with a disability and their families who are now enjoying a wide range of services and benefits.

Ms Cristina commented that within a relatively short timespan, services provided to people with disabilities have been given with a view of integrating every person in society with dignity. She insisted that the agency should continue to provide each and every person the right to access and better integration.

The minister referred also to the day centres for people with a disability which have been within the agency’s remit for the past year. Appogg is assuming the coordination of the majority of government services in the disability sphere, with the objective of improving the quality of service offered in the centres.

Joe Gerada, chief executive officer of the Foundation for Social Welfare Services said the agency’s main objective is to increase the level of care in the community and the number of residential placements for people with disabilities, adding that there is an increased demand by families for such services.

Due to the increased active participation of people with disabilities in community life, said Mr Gerada, there is a larger need for support.

He called for the mainstreaming of disability issues in all policies, arguing that these do not pertain solely to social policies but also to those policies that contribute to the development of human capital and inclusion.

In this respect he called for more involvement of all stakeholders for an integrated policy for people with a disability.

Chief operations officer Marcel Pisani said the agency following its setting up in 2001 had to develop and establish its services.

In the years covered by the biennial report, said Mr Pisani, the agency built on the work achieved in the previous three years and concentrated on consolidating its services. He called for the agency to make full use of its resources in order to maximise the output of its services.