Sharjah airport prepares to be more age-friendly

By Sheena Amos

SHARJAH 15 April 2018: Sharjah Airport Authority (SAA), has signed the document of ‘Commitment to the Care of the Elderly’.

 

This step echoes the vision of H.H Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, aimed at making Sharjah an ideal environment for senior people with the ultimate objective of making them feel happy and well cared for, said Wam.

SAA has developed a work plan to implement the initiative and achieve its objectives, firstly by educating staff members on the concepts of caring for the senior citizens and providing them with services and facilities that meet all their peculiar needs.

SAA is currently providing wide range of services to the elderly including healthcare services, at Sharjah Airport Medical Center, smart-gates, special escalators and wheelchairs, in addition to buses equipped with hydraulic apparatus to lift wheelchair-bound passengers and transport them to the aircraft safely and efficiently.

Additional Facilities

As a part of Sharjah International Airport expansion plan, the SAA is planning to provide additional elder-friendly facilities and services that include reserved parking spaces at the departures and arrivals terminals and driveways, etc.

SAA initiative is under the umbrella of Sharjah’s Programme ‘Age-friendly City’ that was developed by the Committee Supervising Sharjah’s Bid to Join the Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities, of the World Health Organisation (The Network).

WHO established “The Network” to foster the exchange of experience and mutual learning between cities and communities worldwide to promote healthy and active ageing and a good quality of life for their older residents, said Wam.

Ali Salim Al Midfa, Chairman of SAA, signed the document with Asma Al Khodari, Director of the Committee’s Executive Office and a number of SAA’s officials in presence.