Dubai:The Community Development Authority (CDA) in Dubai revealed significant growth in the number of calls to its hotline 800988 launched as part of its efforts to provide local communities with better communication channels. The hotline is supervised by professionals specializing in child, people of determination and elderly protection. The announcement was made as the CDA introduced its integrated promotional campaign to improve its communication with the public through different channels, including the hotline, and ensure their access to its services. As per the Authority, more than two-thirds of the calls consisted of consultations, inquiries about its services and feedback and suggestions on ways to better address the needs of the most vulnerable segments of society. 
Since its launch during the second quarter of 2020, the hotline has already received more than 5,000 calls. About 1,000 calls were reports on possible violations of the rights of people of determination and children, while 3,300 were inquiries about the CDA’s services and ways to access them. Many of the callers also registered to the Authority’s services.

The hotline was launched to enhance the CDA’s engagement with various community groups, especially those who are considered the most vulnerable to harm. The public may call the 24/7 hotline to speak with experts who are trained to handle their requests and promptly respond to reports that require urgent intervention.

Huraiz Al Mur Bin Huraiz, CEO Development and Social Care Sector – CDA, said: “For better handling of calls, the Authority has trained four specialists in child protection; four in the protection of people of determination; four in sign language; and three in elderly protection. Part of its team of specialists are social supervisors trained to handle cases involving the elderly. In addition, the hotline staff underwent intensive training, enabling them to work in parallel with the specialists who are supervising the calls for faster response to the needs of the callers.” 

“As a part of the system dedicated to empowering and protecting the people of determination and in line with the objectives of Dubai Disability Strategy, we also launched the Integrated System of Reporting Abuse Against People of Determination in partnership with Sanad Relay Center. The initiative will enable us to better serve the people with hearing disabilities by using the sign language and with the help of highly qualified specialists and interpreters,” Bin Hariz added. 

He further stated: “Through the hotline, we have reached broader members of our communities who will benefit from our services. It is a channel in which the elderly and their caregivers can communicate easily with the Authority and avail of our services, which include providing them protection and connecting them to licensed service providers in accordance with the Policy for Senior Emiratis and the Policy for the Elderly in Dubai. A better communication with them will enhance our knowledge about their needs and requirements, allowing us to develop more appropriate services and programs in collaboration with our partners.”    

“With CDA services being offered online and offline, the 24/7 hotline with staff who can speak in Arabic and English and know the sign language enables timely assistance to our community members, particularly the most vulnerable. We can take appropriate actions to support them and ensure their protection. Children are among the main beneficiaries of this system. A person can call the hotline to seek child assistance or report any child abuse without disclosing his or her identity,” Bin Hariz noted.

Besides the hotline, the CDA also receives inquiries, requests and reports on cases involving senior citizens, residents, people of determination and children through its messaging system on its website, www.cda.gv.ae, and toll-free number 8002121.