Prime Minister Robert Abela inaugurated a new Children, Adolescents and Youth Services (CAYS) Centre in Birkirkara on Monday while accompanied by Health Minister Jo Etienne Abela.

This CAYS Centre brings together a wide range of specialist services for the care of children, adolescents, and young people in general - all under the same roof.

This Birkirkara facility brings together two services that previously operated separately - the Child Development Assessment Unit (CDAU) and the Child and Young People's Services (CYPS). Families should benefit from easier, more efficient, and comprehensive access through the improved coordination between services in a single site, the government said in a statement.

During this visit, Prime Minister Abela toured the facilities and met with professionals, employees, children, adolescents, as well as families who are benefitting from the services being offered there.

This centre offers holistic care that addresses both physical and mental health needs. Such services include neurodevelopmental paediatrics, community paediatrics, child and adolescent psychiatry, psychology and psychotherapy, and other specialist clinical services like audiology, ophthalmology, dietetics, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, and physiotherapy.

The CAYS features a broad team of professionals including doctors, mental and physical health nurses, social workers, therapists, and other specialised workers who offer support to patients.

This Birkirkara facility also features a quiet room, a breastfeeding room, and other spaces adapted to meet the needs of children and their families.

The investment in this CAYS Centre - which is pushing forward increasingly accessible and modern health services - is in line with Malta's Vision 2050. The country's long-term strategy highlights the importance of high-quality care, early intervention, prevention, the use of modern health technology, and the strengthening of community services so that patients and their families are offered optimal care and support.

The Prime Minister and the Minister for Health together unveiled the commemorative plaque to mark this Centre's official inauguration.