We stand by people with thalassaemia and their families and the Pancyprian Anti-Anemia Association, in order to strengthen and support the rights to equal treatment, anti-discrimination, decent living, support and care, vocational rehabilitation, social inclusion," said the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works, acting Minister of Labour and Social Insurance, Yannis Karousos.
In his address to the General Assembly of the Pancyprian Antianemic Association, read by the Director of the Department of Social Integration of Persons with Disabilities, Christina Flourentzou, he said that in the context of social benefits, significant support is provided by the monthly Transport Allowance for Persons with Thalassaemia, from the Department of Social Integration of Persons with Disabilities, to cover the cost of transportation to and from Thalassaemia Centres, as well as the disability allowance through the Minimum Guaranteed Income legislation of the Welfare Benefits Management Service.
An important reform, Mr. Karousos pointed out, was the amendment of the Social Security legislation so that people with thalassaemia can receive their pension rights from the age of 50, instead of from the age of 65, due to their proven lower life expectancy, enjoying an improved quality of life.
"In the field of vocational rehabilitation, the Department of Labour's incentive schemes for employers to recruit chronically ill or disabled persons, co-financed by the European Social Fund, as well as the implementation of the Recruitment of Persons with Disabilities in the Wider Public Sector Act or the Department of Social Integration of Persons with Disabilities' Small Self-Employment Units Creation Project, contribute significantly by providing employment opportunities," he added.
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