PM Garibashvili praises new services for Georgia’s disabled community

Georgia is the fourth country in the world to have implemented free SMS and video-messaging services for deaf people to contact the country’s emergency services.

At today’s meeting of the State Council on Disability Issues, Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili praised this move and said the country was working hard to make the lives of the disabled community easier.

"State agencies are actively working on the challenges that people with disabilities have today in our country,” he said.

Garibashvili said a special 24-hour free SMS and video-messaging service was launched on March 27, which would allow deaf people and those with speaking disabilities to contact the National Emergency Service 112 and communicate with the receiver.

The PM said similar SMS services were currently operating in 18 countries, video-messaging services had been implemeted in six countries, while both services together were only available in three European states – Czech Republic, Malta and France.

"I am proud that Georgia is the fourth country in the world where people with disabilities have the opportunity to use both services,” Garibashvili said.

"This is the first step taken in this direction. I am confident that with joint efforts we will achieve great success and the rights of each disabled person will be fully protected,” he said.

Garibashvili also noted that the Georgian Government was "well aware” that more problems needed to be solved to allow the full integration of people with disabilities into society.

The Council meeting was held in the Government Administration building today and was attended by members of the Government and representatives of non-governmental organisations.