Evaluation centre being set up for street dwellers

Georgetown GINA, June 10, 2016

The Ministry of Social Protection will commence an evaluation process for street dwellers including drug addicts, vagrants and those that suffer from mental illness.

This process is being led by a committee which was established to deal with the Welfare Management for the Homeless, Mentally Challenged and Addicted. This committee is spearheading a programme that will see homeless persons being taken off the streets.

Chaired by Major General (Ret’d), Joseph Singh, this committee includes representatives from Ministries of Social Protection, Public Health, Public Security, Agriculture and the Mayor and City Council.

According to Minister Lawrence, the committee recently held a meeting where it was agreed that to swiftly tackle this issue, there needs to be an evaluation process to determine whether those street dwellers can be treated externally, placed in a home or, be referred to the National Psychiatric Hospital.

She told the Government Informational Agency (GINA), that the Ministry of Public Health has identified a building in Region Five, which will be used for the evaluation process.

When the homeless persons are taken off the streets they will immediately be transported to this facility to be evaluated. Meals and other necessities will be provided by the Ministry of Social Protection and other partners, the minister explained.

According to Minister Lawrence, the committee is now working on accumulating all that is needed to get the facility ready for the process to begin.

The aim is to ensure that this vulnerable group is given a chance to be reintegrated into society and contribute to the development of Guyana.