From the Metropolitan Municipality: The Netherlands Example in Healthcare Services

28 Nov From the Metropolitan Municipality: The Netherlands Example in Healthcare Services

Muğla Metropolitan Municipality and the Turkey Disabled Association Muğla Branch made significant visits to the Netherlands, where they observed exemplary services in areas such as support for disabled individuals, home care, and residential care.

Muğla Metropolitan Municipality, known for implementing numerous innovative projects in social services, visited the Netherlands to observe best practices in support services aimed at providing better services to citizens and ensuring greater social inclusion for disabled individuals. The delegation included Ünsal Paşalı, Head of the Health and Social Services Department, along with Social Services Specialist Ertan Öztürk representing the municipality. Elif Şenol, the president of the Turkey Disabled Association’s Muğla Branch, also participated in this visit to explore advanced social service models.

The visit to the Netherlands began with meetings facilitated by Zehra Ceben, a council member of the Enschede Municipality, and Mr. Şevki Kabadayı, an owner of a tourism company in the Netherlands. The delegation met with Marjon Kuipers, Director of the Holland Autism Academy and an EU Autism Specialist, along with Ms. Ineke Kleine, Director of Social Services at Enschede Municipality, and Ms. Arjanne Roriye, Director of the Social Issues Resolution Center. Additionally, they examined the DCW (Dienstencentrum Werk) facility established by Enschede Municipality, which focuses on the rehabilitation, social integration, and employment inclusion of disabled citizens.

Subsequently, information was gathered at the Social Work Department of Saxion University in the Netherlands from Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jillis Kort, responsible for International Public Relations, and Social Work Specialist Faruk Oklu, regarding the training sessions held on the university campus. On the second day of the visit to the Netherlands, the delegation also visited the JP Van Den Bent Organization, which is supported by both the government and the municipality. They focused on the operations and services of home care and residential care centers. Additionally, a facility operated by JP Van Den Bent, where mentally disabled individuals are employed, was examined to gain insights into their work integration and social inclusion initiatives.

Ünsal Paşalı: “We Are Working to Provide the Best Service to Our Citizens”

Muğla Metropolitan Municipality’s Head of Health and Social Services, Ünsal Paşalı, stated that the knowledge and experience gained through their visits and observations of facilities and services in the Netherlands would be implemented in Muğla. Paşalı emphasized that under the vision of Muğla’s Mayor Ahmet Aras for a World City, they would continue social municipal projects and strengthen international collaborations to provide the best services to their citizens.