$11.4M Special Needs Buses donated

[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWtl3HaFm7c” width=”100%” height=”315″]

─ Aims to better transport special needs patients.

─ Will be available to other organisations if the need arises.

DPI, Guyana, Tuesday, January 22, 2019

The Palms Geriatric Home and the Mahaica Children’s Home today received one Special Needs minibus each, at a total cost of $11.4 Million, from the Ministry of Social Protection. The vehicles will improve the transport of elderly citizens and special needs patients.

The Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally and her team officially handed over the minibuses which are fully equipped with multiple lifts, seatbelts and advance security mechanism. Minister Ally said her ministry is dedicated to providing proper services to the citizens of Guyana and will ensure that the patients of the Palms Geriatric Home are offered the right amenities.

The two Special Needs Minibus in the compound of the Palms Geriatric Home.

A patient of the Palms Geriatric Home being lifted into one of the bus in a demonstration exercise.

(from left to right) Director of Social Services, Whenthworth Tanner, Director of the Childcare and Protection Agency, Ann Greene, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Mohan Ramrattan, Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally, Permanent Secretary, Lorrain Baird, Administration Assistant, Colleen Roberts and staff of the Palms Geriatric Home.

Minister Amna Ally is joined by her team as she cuts the ribbon at the commissioning for the buses in the compound of the Palms Geriatric Facility.

Minister of Social Protection, Amna Ally and Director of Childcare and Protection Agency, Ann Greene observing a demonstration exercise of the Special Need Bus.

“We are very happy that we can provide service to the elderly, we will put in the extra effort and this is just one step further. We have done a lot of refurbishing at the Palms and there will be more infrastructural advancement in the future,” the Minister said

Additionally, Minister Ally noted that along with the Palms and the Mahaica Children’s Home the buses will also provide services to other organisations when the need arises.

In 2018 three elevators and a rehabilitated ward were commissioned at the Palms Geriatric Home in the ministry’s mandate to raise the standard of the Geriatric Residential Facilities.

Ayana George.

Images: Giovanni Gajie.