A partnership between the Government of Guyana, the High Commission of India and the CARICOM Secretariat will see more Guyanese amputees having access to prosthetic limbs through a project led by the Kalpataru Projects International Limited.
Already, 35 amputees have been provided with prosthetic limbs and another 50 are line to benefit.
At the launch of the India-CARICOM Prosthetic Limbs Camp at the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre on Monday, Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony said the partnership will see Guyanese amputees benefiting from Jaipur Foot – a low-cost, rubber-based prosthetic leg that was developed in India.
Minister Anthony said the initiative stems from the India-CARICOM Summit in November 2024, when a number of health related issues were discussed with the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi.
Minister Anthony said the initiative is unfolding at a time when more and more persons are losing their limps and are therefore in need of prosthesis.
“In Guyana, we have a number of persons, who for many reasons, perhaps because they had an accident they have lost a limb. In other instances, we have patients with diabetes and because they are not feeling very well, it may have resulted in an amputation but one way or another, we have a number of persons in Guyana who would have lost their limbs, and sometimes it is very challenging for them to get a prosthesis,” the Health Minister explained.
He said while the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre offers prosthesis, the cost at times could be very prohibitive. According to him, a prosthetic limb could cost as much as $400,000 and as such, some amputees go on life without any prosthesis due to the cost factor.
However, he said with the launch of the camp, which would see the manufacturing and fitting of prosthetic limbs, would significantly reduce the backlog.
“We make some of our own prosthesis here but we can’t make them fast enough and I think that this partnership that we have now with Jaipur Foot will allow us to be able to reach more people faster so that they would be able to get their prosthesis, they wouldn’t have to wait long before they get their prosthesis,” Minister Anthony explained.
Director of Rehabilitation and Disability Services, Dr Ariane Mangar said already Guyanese are benefiting from the collaboration.
“This partnership has already begun to transform the lives by giving persons with amputation the opportunity to regain independence, mobility and dignity. To date, we have completed 35 limbs and we plan to complete another 50 before the camp is over on the 30th,” Mangar said.
She said through the initiative, amputees from every region of the country will benefit from prosthetic limps as the Ministry of Health expands access to “free, high quality prosthetic limbs.”
Mangar said the programme brings hope to families, empower communities and strengthens rehabilitative services in the country. She said too that it is also a demonstration of how international cooperation can bring about change.
Indian High Commissioner to Guyana, Dr Amit Telang said the initiative was among proposals submitted by Kalpataru Projects International Limited following Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Guyana.
He said soon, it would be rolled out in other parts of the region.
“The intention is also to extend this facility to our other partner countries from the CARICOM Region, and I look forward to the support from the CARICOM Secretariat, because they have been a great help,” the Indian High Commissioner said.
Dr Serena Bender-Peswijk of the CARICOM Secretariat also lauded the initiative, noting that CARICOM is pleased to partner with Guyana, the High Commission of India and India to roll out the programme to improve the lives of amputees in the region by improving their mobility.
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