Trinidad and Tobago is set to benefit from a permanent Artificial Limb Fitment Centre in Siparia.
The announcement came as the Artificial Limb Fitment Camp, born out of collaboration between the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and the Government of India, continues at the Divali Nagar site in Chaguanas, where over 400 citizens have already been fitted with prosthetic limbs.
According to Minister of Land and Legal Affairs and Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Saddam Hosein, the project has brought hope to many citizens who had been without access to affordable prosthetics.
“For those who have not received their fitment in this phase of it, we have good news as a Government. That again, through this partnership with this brotherhood, our bhaiya here, we are going to have a permanent Artificial Limb Camp set up in Trinidad and Tobago. We are exploring all of the logistics right now because you see what is taking place at the back in terms of material, in terms of the technical skills and so on, and we are going to have that Artificial Limb Camp happening permanently in Trinidad and Tobago. Not only to benefit the citizens here, but it will be a regional camp to also benefit the Caribbean.”
Chief Coordinator of the Permanent Limb Camp in Siparia, Amit Alagh, said the initiative will soon find a permanent home in the constituency of Siparia, under the flagship of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
“We are very thankful to Madam Prime Minister for giving us the opportunity to house this camp permanently at one of her offices in the constituency of Siparia. We went to see the place and it was a wonderful, wonderful building, outfitted very nicely, and she has taken a personal initiative and personal involvement in making sure that we are facilitating that camp there.”
Mr. Alagh added that the Prime Minister’s compassion for those affected has been the driving force behind the project.
“And, you know, she said that, you know, we want to see if this initiative can be an initiative of Trinidad and Tobago with the help of the Government of India and we can take it forward. And I think for somebody to adopt this camp at such short, you know, time and forthcoming is something which is not seen anywhere as in the world.”
Meanwhile, the High Commissioner of India to Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Pradeep Singh Rajpurohit, said his Government is pleased to see the impact of the project and the enthusiasm shown by the local community.
“We are very happy. Almost half of the numbers have, the fitments have already been made. More and more people are coming out here to support and the most important thing is the smile on the faces of the people actually here.”
The 50-day Artificial Limb Fitment Camp aims to provide over 800 free prosthetic limbs, and with plans now confirmed for a permanent centre in Siparia, the partnership between Trinidad and Tobago and India continues to stand as a model of humanitarian cooperation.