Minister for Senior Citizens and Active Ageing Michael Farrugia and Minister for Research, Innovation and the Co-ordination of post Covid-19 Strategy Owen Bonnici presided over the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding which will see senior citizens benefitting from a reduced entry price to Esplora for the elderly.
Through this MoU, persons over 60 years of age will be able to visit the Esplora Interactive Science Centre at Bighi and pay a reduced ticket price of €4 instead of €6, which also includes access to the Planetarium Experience. Such persons are required to present their ID card. They will also be entitled to a 10% discount from the Esplora Shop to be used on technological and educational gadgets. On top of this, they will be offered a discounted lunch package as well.
Minister for Senior Citizens and Active Ageing Michael Farrugia said that this week there were a number of positive news related to the elderly sector in our country. Among them is an agreement with the World Health Organisation (WHO) called ‘I Support’, which will help relatives caring for people with dementia in the community.
The agreement between the Department of Active Ageing and Community Care and Esplora offers the opportunity for seniors visiting Esplora to have a substantial reduction in the ticket price and, visiting in groups, they will be supported not only from the Department of Active Ageing and Community Care, but also from the science sector in our country.
“It’s never too late to learn. This agreement will give seniors an opportunity to continue learning while visiting the center with their peers, relatives or grandchildren, and even be given an explanation of what is behind certain things that are done by them on a daily basis.”
Minister Michael Farrugia also mentioned the third positive news, as all elderly and carers in elderly homes will be completely vaccinated against Covid-19, even with the second dose, by the end of February. This means a reduction of half the time it was going to take to vaccinate all the elderly over 85 years of age in our country, which will present an opportunity for the elderly in our country to return to normal life.
Minister for Research, Innovation and the Co-ordination of post Covid-19 Strategy Owen Bonnici thanked all those involved in this agreement and every person who contributed in some way or another in order to make this MoU possible.
Minister Bonnici said: “As a government, we are committed to pushing innovation to the forefront of our country’s agenda. Through this MoU, we are giving an opportunity for science to be enjoyed by our elderly. Esplora offers interactive science in a way that can help our older generation be more active, while also educating them by broadening their educational horizons.”
This MoU encourages more people to visit Esplora and other innovative and technology-related centres, in order for our society to keep growing and to make the most out of these types of opportunities.
Also present for the signing were the Executive Chairman of The Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST) Dr Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, as well as the CEO for Active Ageing and Community Care Dr Renzo De Gabriele.
