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  • 3 months ago
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar says persons living with disabilities in Trinidad and Tobago will soon have greater access to life-changing prosthetic services right here at home.

Speaking at the launch of a new prosthetics initiative, the Prime Minister said citizens will no longer have to travel abroad, endure long waiting periods or face overwhelming costs to receive care.

Sharla Kistow has more.
Transcript
00:00Prime Minister Kamala Poussad-Bissessa says the government is moving to make prosthetic care a permanent national service in TNT.
00:08She pointed to the success of the 2025 Artificial Limp Fitment Camp held at the Diwali Nagao, where more than
00:16800 citizens receive prosthetic limbs.
00:19What we launched here today builds on real and proven impact.
00:25At the Artificial Limp Fitment Camp held, as Dr. Boda and others, 800 then, last year, that we were able
00:32to fit our citizens, about 800.
00:37That initiative demonstrated both the scale of national need and the transformative impact of accessible care.
00:45Lives changed. Families regained hope. Citizens regained mobility, confidence, and independence.
00:54We are now ensuring this care is no longer temporary.
00:57Again, thanks to the government and people of India, and thanks to Jaipur Foot USA, that this will be a
01:04permanent national service.
01:06The Prime Minister says the initiative will also strengthen the country's health care system by allowing local professionals to receive
01:13specialized training in prosthetic fabrication and fitment.
01:17In contrast, local health care professionals will receive hands-on training and skills transfer to fabricate and fit the limbs
01:27right here in Trinidad and Tobago.
01:29That is a plus again, and we thank you so you have persons coming to train our nationals here to
01:37carry on this work.
01:38In so doing, we ensure that the knowledge, technology, and long-term future of this service remain within our national
01:46health care system.
01:47Prime Minister Poussard Bisesa says the long-term vision is for Trinidad and Tobago to become a regional leader in
01:54rehabilitation and prosthetic services.
01:57The centre also positions Trinidad and Tobago as a regional hub for specialized rehab services across the Caribbean.
02:05We are already positioning ourselves as a regional hub in the energy sector, as a regional hub with respect to
02:13manufacturing and other products.
02:15And so this could give us a place to evolve into a regional centre for prosthetics, expertise, and training.
02:24The government says the initiative represents a major step toward improving accessibility, rehabilitation services,
02:31and quality health care for persons living with disabilities in Trinidad and Tobago.
02:36Charlotte Kisto, TV6 News.
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