PM Kamla Launches Artificial Foot Centre: Free Prosthetics for 800+ in Need
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has announced the establishment of an artificial foot centre in Trinidad and Tobago. This initiative, a partnership with the Jaipur Foot Camp and supported by the Indian government and High Commission, aims to provide free prosthetic limbs to over 800 people in need.
The centre is a collaboration between the Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS), which has already provided over 2.5 million artificial limbs worldwide, and local technicians trained in India. The camp will run for 50 days, offering free measurement, fitting, and training to hundreds of citizens annually, addressing the public health challenge of 350-400 lower-limb amputations, primarily due to diabetes and traffic accidents.
The economic impact of amputation is significant, with a single amputation reducing a household's income by 20-40 per cent. Prosthetic limbs can cost up to $40,000, making them unaffordable for many. India is supporting the project with a US$100,000 donation for machinery and a US$75,000 grant. The initiative is expected to benefit not only Trinidad and Tobago but also the wider Caricom community.
BMVSS founder Devendra Raj Mehta expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve the distressed segment of the population. The centre's establishment is a testament to international cooperation in addressing a pressing public health issue, providing hope and mobility to those in need.
