More assistance for amputees, disabled

In due time, a laboratory will be operated in St. Vincent to assist amputees and the disabled.{{more}}

This was communicated to the media during a press conference held by the Partners of the Americas last Thursday at the Music Centre Conference room.

The Partners of the Americas through the St. Vincent /Long Island partners hosted the visit of Altagracia Nidia Pena, a specialist in Prosthetics from New York, between April 15 and 26.

During her visit, Pena met with persons at Clinics in Kingstown, Georgetown, Barrouallie, Biabou and Belair.

Pena stated that the long-term goal is to establish a laboratory that can assist amputees by providing prosthetics for them. Pena added that during her visit, a variety of amputees were identified including those with shoulder, leg, below and above the knee as well as partial foot disarticulations.

“What we would like to be able to do is to help these people by providing them with artificial limbs to get them back and active in their communities, at work, in their societies, to be productive members of our community,” Pena said, adding that many of the patients either have prosthetics or have become comfortable walking with clutches. Others have remained home due to their amputations.

Minister of Health, Wellness and the Environment Cecil Mckie stated that the purpose of the clinic was “to do an assessment and analysis to see where we are, relative to amputees and prosthesis in SVG”. He added that over 80 persons benefited from the clinics conducted by Pena. Mckie also said that the Ministry has a database of amputees and disabled patients and will refer to that database to assist persons, making sure that everyone is contacted.

In moving forward, Mckie stated that an analysis of the needs of the amputees will be done and the costs for the prosthetics that will be needed for each patient. After these analyses are done, the next step will be to find the source of funding, Mckie said.

Speaking on the possibility of opening a prosthetics lab here, Mckie said that persons must also be trained in Prosthetics, a service Mckie said Pena has already agreed to assist with.

“At the end of the day, what we are trying to do is to improve the quality of life for amputees in SVG. And in other cases prevent other persons from becoming amputees.” Mckie said.

Sean Saunders, an amputee and a patient of Pena, told Searchlight that he sees the initiative of the Partners of the Americas as a good one, and is thankful to the organization. Saunders, who wears a prosthetic leg, says that he lost his left leg in 1997 and received a prosthetic leg in 1998 in the United Kingdom. However, the prosthetic leg became uncomfortable and Saunders received a right prosthetic leg and adjusted it to fit his left leg.

Saunders at times gets blisters on his amputated leg, the result of his level of activity. The self employed resident of Paul’s Avenue is also an avid sportsman and plays football with several football teams.