Taiwan is a society imbued with love, Premier Jiang Yi-huah remarked today at 2014 5th Angel's Day—New Taipei City Friendly Together, an event for handicapped children and their families.
"In recent years, through the combined efforts of the Angel Heart Family and many other social welfare groups, every sector of society has come to understand and accept angels with mental or physical disabilities and allow them to better develop within the community," Jiang said at the event, which was held at New Taipei City Hall Citizen Plaza. "The government has also implemented a series of measures to help these angels' families."
The term "angels" applies to all physically and mentally challenged children, said the Angel Heart Family Social Welfare Foundation (AHFSWF), the host of Angel's Day.
The premier pointed out that he has done his best to attend this annual event whenever he has had time in his busy public schedule over the years. He praised the activity, saying that aside from helping society to get to know angels, it also helps parents to courageously step out and brave the world together with their children.
The government has implemented a series of measures to help angel families, Jiang emphasized, including early diagnosis and treatment of ailments as well as the provision of needed services for high-risk families with difficulties, especially those in which both parents are elderly.
Meanwhile, the Executive Yuan has directed the Ministry of Health and Welfare to expediently inform all families who are keeping their angels' circumstances private to come out and make use of various resources, such as local referral and case-management centers. The premier also expects the general public to work together with the government to help Taiwan become a better and more progressive place.
Angel's Day is held on the third Saturday of the third month (336) of every year. The AHFSWF, volunteers, and cultural and arts groups run the program together in order to help the public better understand, accept, be friendly toward, and extend assistance to angel families.