Casablanca - King Mohammed VI a number of social projects under the Old Medina Upgrading Program on Saturday in Casablanca, according to MAP.
The King inaugurated the "Bousmara" health center, the "Buenaventura" culture house, and a generations' meeting area, carried out as part of the Anti-Poverty Initiative (INDH) for an amount of 33 million dirhams.
Meant to improve people's access to basic services, enhancing youth competences and safeguarding the historical heritage of Casablanca's old medina, these projects were launched by King Mohammed VI in August 2011.
The projects aim at meeting the needs of populations and remedying the shortcomings of the city, which is considered as Morocco's economic development engine.
The "Bousmara" health center has a RAMED office, units for general medicine, mother-child health care, phthisiology and addiction.
The new facility will provide check-ups for chronic diseases (diabetes, hypertension) and cancer diagnosis, in addition to action to fight against tuberculosis and raise awareness about drug use.
This center will offer medical care for people with addictive behavior and will ensure an effective implication of families and associations in prevention actions.
A historical building of the old medina, the "Buenaventura" church was revamped and turned into a culture house which hosts an exhibition hall, a reading room for people with limited mobility, a library that includes 6,492 books, a playground for kids and a computer room.
The 1,250 square meter-cultural facility seeks to promote reading among youngsters, and fight against exclusion and illiteracy in underprivileged areas through community-based education and spare-time activities.
As for the generations' meeting area, it seeks to open new prospects and build bridges among groups of different ages. It includes an ANAPEC area for youth and women's social and vocational integration, sewing and pottery workshops, training and literacy classrooms, a computer room, a multi-purpose hall, an elderly ward (physiotherapy room, prayers' room, a cafeteria, an aerobics hall and a martial arts hall.
With MAP