The Prime Minister of the Zenica-Doboj Canton, Nezir Pivić, together with the Ministers Dženan Čišija and Emir Vrac and the Mayor of Visoko, Mirzo Ganić, visited the Day Center for Children and Adults with Special Needs in Visoko, which cares for 90 users from the areas of Visoko, Vareš, Breza and Kakanj. The visit was organized at the invitation of the “Naše Sunce” association, which gathers parents of the children of the beneficiaries of this institution.
The day center in Dobrinje, near Visoko, is one of the five business units in the JU Center for Children and Adults with Special Needs in the Zenica-Doboj Canton. Day care centers exist in Žepč and Tešnje, while Early Intervention and the Department for Encouraging Development and Early Intervention function in Zenica.
Director JU Center for children and adults with special needs ZDK Ernad Metaj thanked for the visit, but also for the continued support of the Government of Zenica-Doboj Canton and the relevant ministry, saying that this relationship should serve as an example in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This, as he said, is illustrated by the fact that the institution’s budget has been increased from 1.7 to 3 million KM in three years, which is planned for 2026, and the salaries of employees have been equated with salaries in education.
– With such support, we have one of the best models for caring for vulnerable categories of the population of this kind in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We want to bring the service closer to all our communities, so next year we plan to open day centers in Olovo and Breza – said Metaj. He stated that this institution takes care of over 900 users from the entire canton.
Prime Minister Nezir Pivić said that taking care of vulnerable categories is at the top of the priorities of the Government he leads, expressing satisfaction that parents are happy and satisfied, and children have the same conditions as their peers in the European Union.
– We have no qualms about supporting this institution and we will do everything to ensure that every child and adult with special needs receives the necessary care. I am happy when such institutions have the support of the principal, as is the case in Visoko, because with such support a good result cannot be missing – said Prime Minister Pivić, thanking the director Metaj and the management, as well as the entire staff, for doing their best to make the children feel at home.
The President of the “Naše Sunce” Association of Parents, Lejla Smajević, thanked for the visit and unreserved support, saying that the Center makes life easier for families with children and adults with special needs.
