National Orthotic and Prosthetic Appliance Workshop Celebrates 25 Years

May 31, 2019 News

The National Orthotic and Prosthetic Appliance Workshop is celebrating 25 years since its establishment.

The new sign at the renamed centre

At a ceremony yesterday to commemorate the occasion, Board member Mrs Sarojonie Rambaran, gave the welcome and her opening remarks.
She said, “The workshop is the only one of its kind in Guyana and offers much needed support for the rehabilitation of persons who require these appliances, by assisting them with social and financial independence.
“Recent times have seen the workshop grow…The workshop is now in a better position

A section of the gathering

to meet increasing demands, especially prosthesis for amputees suffering from diabetes.”
Senior prosthetic technician, Colin Charles, delivered the history of the workshop. He said, “The workshop had its origin as a brace shop when the Poly Rehabilitation Centre was established in 1967 by the Ministry of Health, subsequent to the Polio epidemic.”

Some of the prosthetics being made at the centre.

He went on to say that in the early 1960s many children needed braces to aid in their rehabilitation. At this time the orthopaedic technician, as they were called, had to be recruited from overseas.
“In spite of several requests to the Ministry of Public Health, for the change in title to truly reflect the profession our technicians are still referred to as orthopaedic technicians. This allows them to be classified as semi-skilled operatives.”
He said that the workshop was commissioned on the 16th of May, 1994. In 1997 the Bar Foundation of Florida first supported the Orthotic and Prosthetic workshop by ways of material and training.
Between April 2016 and May 2019 the local training programme was executed with an instructor recruited from overseas. The first six months was dedicated to theoretical classes delivered by local available professionals.
Upon completion of the training they would start their apprentice training with the attachment of the senior technicians.
After 25 years of service to persons with disabilities Guyana felt that it has arrived at this point where people are comfortable and the service being provided is of a higher quality, more technological and advanced in meeting the needs of the clientele.
The Koro Kwa singers of which the late Mrs Janice E Simmons was a member, delivered a musical piece, Guyana The Free.
Chief Medical officer Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, said, “This is indeed another significant occasion for us at the Ministry of Public Health and here at the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre as we celebrate together, another year and 25 years of the establishment of this unit.”
He brought greetings from Minister Volda Lawrence. He said that the strategic objectives of the ministry points clearly to where services offered by this workshop fits in.
Doctor Paul Edwards spoke on behalf of Dr. William Adu-Krow , the PAHO/WHO representative to Guyana.
Dr. Edwards said, “Rehabilitation and habitation are processes intended to aid people with disabilities, to reach and maintain an optimum physical, sensory, intellectual, social and psychological function and encompasses a wide range of activities.”
In closing he said that PAHO/WHO Guyana remains committed to continue the work that the board has started at the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre, with the finality to maximise the Guyanese people ability to live, work and learn to their best potential.
Fidelle Pitt, a client of the said facility, gave the vote of thanks and the plaque was unveiled by Soroya Simmons, the granddaughter of Mrs J.E. Simmons after whom the centre was renamed.

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