The government will coordinate €25 million in funding for a new Holistic Care Centre for Children and Families in Mosta, a project led by Puttinu Cares, that aims to support children and their families not only during serious illness, but also in the often-overlooked period after treatment.

In a press conference addressed by Prime Minister Robert Abela, Minister for Home Affairs Byron Camilleri, and Puttinu Cares president Angele Cuschieri at the Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre, it was announced that the government will coordinate €25 million in funding for the construction of a new Holistic Care Centre for Children and Families in Mosta, to be administered by Puttinu Cares.

In addition to construction costs, the funding will cover the operation of the centre for its first five years.

The financing for the project will come from substantial philanthropic donations linked to Citizenship by Merit, after the law reforms on the citizenship scheme were implemented months ago, Minister Camilleri said.

The Prime Minister said the funding follows the government’s prior allocation of public land to Puttinu Cares for the development of the centre.

He explained that the facility will go beyond medical care, offering a range of support services including psychological care, therapy, and educational services to enable children to continue their studies while undergoing treatment.

The centre, which will also receive funds from the Social Causes Fund, will support families facing particularly difficult moments, including those coping with bereavement.

The centre, described as a “home-like” rather than a clinical environment, will provide integrated support under one roof for children facing cancer, trauma, or other serious illnesses, as well as for their families.

Services will include psychological support, play, dance and music therapy, educational continuity for children unable to attend school during treatment, and programmes for siblings to help them process the emotional impact of illness.

Abela described the project as an example of how a government that truly serves its people should act.

“The Malta we want is a Malta where, in moments of need, families find a government with both the resources and the will to support them,” he said, adding that the government’s belief in politics is what makes a real difference in people’s lives.

He said that, following the unanimous approval in parliament of legal amendments, individuals making substantial philanthropic donations to Puttinu Cares for this project will be considered for citizenship by merit, subject to due diligence and other regulatory requirements.

Abela also spoke about his personal experiences with Puttinu Cares, including visits to Maltese families receiving support in the United Kingdom.

He described the organisation as a “family” that offers comfort and solidarity to those going through hardship and thanked its volunteers for their work in Malta.

Abela said the government would continue standing alongside Puttinu Cares and the families it supports.

“The Malta we believe in is one where people do not turn away from the difficulties of others, but treat them as their own,” Abela said.

He added that the state’s partnership with voluntary organisations such as Puttinu Cares is essential in delivering care that goes beyond the medical aspect and addresses the overall well-being of patients and families.

Minister Camilleri said the project would significantly elevate the level of support provided to those who have undergone cancer treatment.

He described it as a project of national importance that deserves full support to ensure it becomes operational as soon as possible and is run to the highest standards.

Camilleri added that the government wants to ensure the project has not only the necessary material resources, including land, but also the professional expertise needed to introduce services that are not yet available in Malta.

He said that the citizenship-by-merit provisions approved unanimously by Parliament earlier this year would apply to those making significant philanthropic contributions, subject to strict regulations and safeguards.

Camilleri explained that the government had already provided public land for the centre and would now ensure that the project is fully resourced, both materially and professionally.

He said Malta is also looking to attract foreign professionals to provide specialised services not currently available locally, extending beyond cancer care to other serious medical interventions.

“This is an important national project that will touch the lives of many families, particularly children, and it creates a meaningful connection between donors and a project that will provide vital support to so many,” Camilleri said.

Also addressing the press conference, held in the presence of several families and children receiving assistance from Puttinu Cares, president Angele Cuschieri said the project will allow the organisation to be immediately present for families during times of hardship.

“We will walk this difficult journey together with them,” she said, adding that similar projects in the United Kingdom currently support thousands of patients and families.

She said that the new centre in Mosta would significantly ease the suffering of families facing serious illness.

Cuschieri spoke of Malta’s strong culture of solidarity, saying that when people see others going through difficult times, they come together to offer support and dignity.

Following the press conference, Abela, Camilleri, Health Minister Jo Etienne Abela and Puttinu Cares officials, visited children admitted to the Rainbow Ward at Mater Dei Hospital.

They also met families and healthcare professionals, while the children received Christmas gifts donated by the Maltese and Gozitan public through this year’s Rigal bi Mħabba initiative.