DAVIDOVIĆ: SYSTEMIC SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES

BANJA LUKA, December 15 /SRNA/ - The goal of this year's humanitarian campaign "To Brave Hearts With Love" is to provide systemic support and assistance to children and young people with developmental disabilities, as well as to their parents, Republika Srpska President's Adviser Sonja Davidović told SRNA.

Davidović noted that data from the Republika Srpska Ministry of Health and Social Welfare indicate an increase in the number of children with developmental disabilities. "There are around 3,200 children with developmental disabilities in Republika Srpska, and about 800 in Banja Luka. These are beneficiaries registered within the social protection system, while, unfortunately, the number is higher when we add those who are not registered," Davidović said. She added that all citizens can support this humanitarian campaign by calling 1411 and donating one BAM. Davidović recalled that the humanitarian initiative "To Brave Hearts With Love" was launched in 2010 at the initiative of then Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik, when funds were raised for children suffering from malignant diseases. Under the high patronage of the Acting President of Republika Srpska Ana Trišić-Babić, the 16th donor evening "To Brave Hearts With Love" will be held in Banja Luka on December 26, with the aim of raising funds for the establishment and equipping of centers for specialized social services for children and youth with developmental disabilities in Banja Luka, Derventa, and Foča. Donations will be paid into the accounts of the Republika Srpska Ministry of Finance, namely the special-purpose account No. 5710100000270015 opened with Poštanska štedionica Bank Banja Luka, and the foreign-currency account IBAN BA 395710070400006774, party No. 0070400000067, opened with the same bank. The holders of this year's project are the Republika Srpska Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Republika Srpska Institute for Social Protection.