7.4m Bahraini dinar disability centre to be built in AAli

The Comprehensive Disability Complex Project to be built at A’Ali was awarded at a tender bid of BD7,413,127, said the Minister of Works, Municipalities Affairs & Urban Planning Essam bin Abdulla Khalaf
The project is funded by the Kuwaiti Economic Development Fund. Construction of the complex is expected to begin early this year.
The land area allocated for this Ministry of Social Development project is 29,106 square metre (sqm). The area demarcated for building purposes is 18,765 sqm. Once completed, the complex will accommodate 1,450 persons, of which 160 are expected to be administrative staff. They will occupy the main building, said the minister.
He added that the ministry’s construction projects directorate carried out the engineering designs for the project, and would also supervise the construction.
The minister explained that the architectural and construction design for the project took into account the new requirements of the Ministry of Social Development. The project is built along green buildings and sustainability specifications. These include LED lighting, sensor mixers, double glazed and thermal insulated aluminum windows and thermal insulated roofs. The building design allows natural light to enter the building all day, saving on electricity consumption and help with cases that require direct exposal to sunlight.
To ensure healthy internal environment inside the complex, all the rooms, corridors and halls are to be acoustically insulated using vinyl flooring and acoustically insulted roofs. These roofs will reduce noise and provide quiet environment that allows for concentration and rehabilitation services. Also, low volatile organic compounds and anti-carbon paints are to be used for the painting of internal and external walls. Solar water heating system is to be used as well, said the ministry.
The minister said that all the facilities provided in the buildings would be in line with the needs of people and staff with special needs. They will include slopes along the entrances to the complex buildings and spacious toilets to accommodate their needs.
The Minister of Social Development Faeqa bint Saeed Al-Saleh said that the A’Ali complex will have a number of access points from the main road. It will also provide four bus waiting sheds, in addition to parking spaces for people with special needs, visitors and members of the administrative, therapeutic and educational bodies. The parking space will accommodate 309 vehicles, said the minister.
The Comprehensive Disability Complex, the minister added, comprises of nine separated buildings. Each of these buildings will be dedicated to treating, caring for, educating and rehabilitating a particular class of comprehensive disability -- such as Down Syndrome, hearing impaired and those who cannot speak, autism and brain damage. In addition, it will also have other sections set aside for physical therapy and psychotherapy, work therapy, a specialized library, psychological support centre, measurement, evaluation and diagnosis. Each building includes treatment, rehabilitation and education halls; together with the related offices for the therapeutic, educational and administrative faculty. Other service facilities include toilets and stores, buildings for education and training, health club, multi-purpose presentation hall, main administrative building, electricity substation, control room, water tank, guard room and outside fence.
She said that the complex will be equipped and operated by the social development ministry in collaboration and partnership with the civil society organizations.
The social development minister said that the project was initiated upon the directives of His Majesty the King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. HM the King directed the allocation of land for the construction of 10 rehabilitation and educational buildings for the disabled.
The construction and operation of Abdulla bin Kanoo Centre for Disability Diagnosis and Evaluation also came upon directives of HM the King. The projects also portray the care for the disabled given by His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salma Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister.
The minister added that all such projects are closely monitored by the Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Ministerial Committee for Services & Infrastructure, Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla