The portfolio of the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare was taken over today, March 1, 2023, by the new Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Ms Marilena Evangelou, during a special ceremony held at the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare.
During the handover ceremony, the Deputy Director General of the Deputy Ministry, Ms. Marina Ioannou-Hasapi, referred to the major challenges that the newly established Deputy Ministry under the leadership of Ms. Anthousi had to face in order to support citizens. Addressing the outgoing Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Ms Ioannou-Hasapi said "you have worked hard, always with the holistic support of the individual and the family in mind and with the aim of ensuring the rights of vulnerable people. You have worked tirelessly and opened your arms to all citizens and to each individual". Ms An. Director General, in bidding farewell to Ms Anthoussi and thanking her on behalf of all the staff of the Deputy Ministry, praised her diligence, promptness and efficiency, characteristics that "have been a catalyst in overcoming the obstacles we encountered and advancing the issues of concern to the Deputy Ministry. With the priority of supporting the vulnerable groups of the population, you have never stopped striving to achieve the objectives set."
Addressing the new Deputy Minister, she then wished her every success in the work she is undertaking, noting that the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare has major challenges to manage and an important responsibility towards society as a whole.
Addressing the new Deputy Minister, she wished her every success in the work she is undertaking, noting that the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare has major challenges to manage and an important responsibility towards society as a whole. "The Deputy Ministry is dedicated to serving the needs of the most vulnerable members of our society. Every citizen deserves to live a life with dignity and respect. I am confident that you will fully live up to this mission and I want to assure you that the staff of the Deputy Ministry and myself will be by your side, undivided supporters of your efforts," Ms. Ioannou-Hasapi concluded.
For her part, the outgoing Deputy Minister expressed her emotion and pride for the work done at the newly established Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare during the first 20 months of its establishment. "Some 20 months ago I accepted the very honourable offer from President Anastasiades to take up the portfolio as the first Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, assuming responsibility for implementing a range of policies that were part of the Government's broader strategy to create a strong welfare state. Taking the baton from the dear Minister Zeta Aimylianidou and with a compass to continue the enormous work she had accomplished all the previous years, my goal was to lay the foundations for a more humane state, a state of support and companionship for vulnerable social groups", said Ms Anthousi. As the outgoing Deputy Minister explained, she accepted the challenge with a full understanding of the difficulties and responsibilities that arose, but above all with the conviction of the prospects and possibilities that existed for achieving the goals and reforms, with a focus on people.
"In the short time that I headed the Deputy Ministry, we managed to set up the Deputy Ministry and tried, by listening to the growing multidimensional needs of society and citizens, to improve the social welfare services provided. We made it a priority to reorganize the Department of Social Welfare Services to strengthen action for the welfare of citizens and ensure social cohesion. Following the integration of the Welfare Benefits Management Service into the Ministry of State, we have placed emphasis on changing the culture and establishing procedures that reduce bureaucracy and increase the quality of service to citizens. In this context, the Welfare Benefit Service Points were implemented for better and faster service, priority assessment criteria were established for vulnerable categories, the electronic submission of applications was put on track for implementation, we activated the institution of social intervention in order to reactivate our fellow citizens and avoid indefinite beneficiaries", Ms Anthousi noted among other things.
Regarding the strengthening of the family and the child, Ms Anthousi referred to the objectives set for their support, and the policies implemented to increase children's access to care and education services, as well as the reactivation of inactive potential in the labour market. Among other things, the legislative reform for children under the care of the Social Welfare Services was completed with a revision of the institution of foster care, and at the same time, through the State Aid Plan and the use of funds from European programmes, the conditions for financing additional structures were created, which will contribute to a more direct and effective intervention and provision of support by the State services. We have laid the foundations for the creation of a strong social protection network. This effort is never ending and the struggle is always unequal," said Ms. Anthousi with emotion. She also praised the will to cooperate with all political forces, NGOs and the voluntary movement, local authorities and other social partners. Cooperation had resulted in and at its heart was people, Ms. Anthousi noted.
Ms. Anthousi conveyed her thanks and appreciation to the grassroots staff who embraced the vision of creating a strong welfare state that would support all our vulnerable fellow human beings, with respect.
Addressing the new Deputy Minister, Ms Anthoussi reiterated that the challenges are immense and the issues she will be called upon to manage are sensitive. Clearly moved, Ms Anthousi conveyed to Ms Evangelou the advice she herself had received from the late Zeta Emilianidou: "Take care of the world. Children, the elderly and our fellow human beings in difficulty", adding that "our duty as a State is to reach out and support the silent voices, always with respect for human dignity. Then the mission of the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare will be completed."
In turn, the new Deputy Minister of Social Welfare thanked the President of the Republic for his confidence in her, noting her commitment to work hard to achieve his goals. Speaking about the work achieved under the leadership of Ms Anthoussi, the new Deputy Minister of Social Welfare conveyed her determination to work on the foundations laid and build on them with a view to strengthening the welfare state.
"There is already an excellent policy framework for welfare, for which we have both a vision and policies for development and strengthening through the President's Governance Programme of the President of the Republic, which is people-centred. I am very well aware of the difficulties and the shortcomings and the weaknesses that exist; I am also a citizen of Cyprus and an active member of civil society and I have experienced from the ground up some of the issues that arise. Nothing is easy, but everything is possible. Beyond everything, however, every policy and action, especially in this Deputy Ministry, needs a human-centred approach and a word that is in the Governance Programme of Nikos Christodoulides: empathy", Ms Evangellou said.
Addressing the staff of the Deputy Ministry, the Deputy Minister called on them to feel proud of their contribution through their work. Together, she continued, we will find solutions and address problems and difficulties. Our goal is to serve people well and especially our fellow human beings in need.
(MKυ)
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