Port Kaituma’s Diabetic amputee mobile again

─ gets wheelchair at govt outreach

DPI, Guyana, Saturday, September 21, 2019

“Right now, the wheelchair isn’t good. The bearings mash-up. So, I can’t use it. So, I didn’t get to go [to the hospital] this Wednesday.” Those were the words of Clarence Rodrigues, a 57-year old diabetic patient, and Port Kaituma native, who has had both of his legs amputated in 2016 and 2017.

Speaking to the Department of Public Information (DPI) during the government outreach in Port Kaituma, Clarence explained that his teenage son often takes him to the hospital in the wheelchair, but has not been able to do so due to its condition.

Determined to get his matter addressed, Clarence sent one of his daughters to the Ministry of Public Health’s booth to make a request on her father’s behalf for one of the many wheelchairs being distributed on Friday. Without delay, both a wheelchair and transfer bench were donated to Clarence by the Public Health Minister, Hon. Volda Lawrence.

Clarence expressed his relief and satisfaction saying, “I feel so happy… I am thankful for it.” He also signalled his support for the ambulance that was commissioned by His Excellency, President David Granger after it was donated by International Imports and Supply Limited, noting that he will make use of the service.

DPI also heard from a father of 4, Linden Williams, who related the impact of not having a proper ambulance service in Port Kaituma. According to Linden, “it was very hard because it is expensive; you have to take cars to carry you [to the hospital]. So, it was hard for some poor people.”

To this end, Linden is confident that the ambulance will, “help out with a lot of situations because now if anything happens people could get free access to go to the hospital since it is far from the communities of some of the people.”

Meanwhile, Evelyn Williams, who also resides in Port Kaituma and is a housewife of 11 children summed up her thoughts on the impact of the new ambulance.  “It is a blessing and I feel good that we got an ambulance because if anyone gets sick, we can call the ambulance and they can come and collect us.”

In his remarks at the commissioning ceremony, President Granger highlighted the importance of having a healthy nation. “We have to have a public plan which ensures that our citizens are safe from communicable diseases and also safe from non-communicable diseases,” the president said.

The ambulance was handed over to the Port Kaituma Community Hospital.

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