Dakhla, Western Sahara region which is currently under Moroccan rule, presents a situation of permanent emergency generated by the increase in population from Morocco and little economic activity. The result is a high rate of unemployment and a lack of material resources to meet basic needs.
In this context, the extreme poverty makes it impossible to assist the disabled population. Therefore, the Moroccan-Sahrawi association “Association of Disabled Dakhla” with the collaboration of the Catholic Church, works since 2000 to meet the needs of therapeutic care to children with a disability or handicap, helping thus their social integration.
A team of volunteer nurses works in the centre, dealing with the care of children less than 12 years old, without discrimination on grounds of ethnicity, religious belief, etc.
The Centre currently serves 60 children with various disabilities: physical, hearing, intellectual, etc. Most children who come to the centre for rehabilitation are between 2 and 4 years, and are affected by motor or intellectual disabilities. Generally they belong to families with very low incomes, which could not pay the 10 dirham (1 euro) that would cost them to come and go by taxi. Therefore, the medical team works also directly with their mothers to teach them to make the rehabilitation of their children in their own home, ensuring greater continuity in treatment.
Moreover, the aid received from the Pontifical Council Cor Unum for this project is set aside to the purchase of wheelchairs and the needed material for making plaster. Specifically, on the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, twelve wheelchairs were distributed among patients of the Center with ages under 18.
Additionally within the activities covered by this project, a visit of eye doctors travelling from Spain has been also scheduled in order to diagnose vision problems among patients of the center and to begin treatment according to the needs thereof.