Latest update March 28th, 2024 12:59 AM
Sep 08, 2019 News
There has been a drastic increase in the number of persons living with amputations in Region Four. This increase has been recorded over the past three years according to statistics from the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre (PRRC). But the possibility of there being more is not unheard of as the PRRC can only account for those within its register.
PRRC situated at Carmichael Street, Georgetown, is a non-profit organization providing rehabilitation services for children and adults with physical/developmental disabilities, those with amputated limbs and persons with hearing impairment. The organization offers a rehabilitation programme, special education through its Harold B. Davis Special School, vocational training for adolescents and young adults with disabilities and daycare services for children with special needs.
It also provides dormitory/part-time residency for children with special needs, audiology and manufactures orthotic devices and prosthetic limbs. PRRC is the sole facility in Guyana capable of manufacturing these appliances.
In 2017, the centre recorded 32 newcomers. The following year this number increased to 58. So far for 2019, it has recorded 39 individuals.
According to the head of the rehab services department, Dexter George, “The numbers are not reflecting a good number because every year we are seeing a dramatic increase of persons.”
He went on to say that, “For our centre it will be best to see less numbers because it will mean that persons are exposed to a better health care system (where) identification and prevention is offered.”
However, with the increase in numbers, it can mean that treatment is not effective enough. Persons do not receive adequate medication and health care. Also individuals are not following health care orders or diet.
What is more worrying is that there seems to be an increase in amputations among persons with chronic non communicable diseases such as diabetes. George said that data in this regard is still being compiled by the centre and should be released to the public by this year end. The data will also capture the other reasons for amputations.
“We are still working towards compiling this data because the persons who come to us, some are reluctant to relate the information about their amputations,” George said.
PRRC offers counseling to their members as persons living with amputation may feel depressed.
The head of department said, “We provide counselling and training as to how they can continue living because it is better to live with an amputation rather than losing one’s life.”
Although there have been persons who left the center because they believe they cannot cope with their amputation, PRRC strongly advises against such behaviours through generous support service, George informed.
Battling the rising figures in amputations the workers at PRRC look at every situation so as to find an alternative.
Moreover, George said, “There is a situation where a health centre may not have a doctor or some may not have adequate medication, while some may not have any nurses. These varying factors all come from an administrative level. Saying diabetes is new in Guyana is a lie. Everyone knows about diabetes but how it is managed is where the problem is.”
PRRC also works with its members in providing prosthetic limb once they are eligible. If one cannot fully finance these limbs, the organization works with them to negotiate a workable way to pay. There are also organizations which assist in this regard. Most of the materials used for the prosthetic limbs are imported from as far as Germany, Columbia, United States and China. (By Trishan Craig)
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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