Trinidad and Tobago to Get First Artificial Foot Centre, Transforming Lives of Hundreds
Trinidad and Tobago is set to establish an artificial foot centre, a significant step towards addressing the annual challenge of 350-400 lower-limb amputations. The initiative, led by the Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS), aims to provide free prosthetic limbs to those in need, with India contributing US$175,000 for machinery and grant funding.
The BMVSS, having provided over 2.5 million artificial limbs worldwide, including 27 countries, will deliver this initiative. The economic impact of amputation is severe, with a single amputation reducing a household's income by 20-40 per cent, and prosthetic limbs costing up to $40,000. The centre, expected to benefit the wider Caricom community, will be set up with local technicians trained in India, and Indian trainers supporting the process in Trinidad and Tobago.
Over 50 days, hundreds of citizens will be measured, fitted, and trained to walk again free of cost. More than 800 people are expected to benefit, with participants from other island countries like Grenada and Dominica also anticipated.
The establishment of this centre, announced by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, addresses a pressing public health challenge, primarily caused by diabetes and traffic accidents. With India's financial assistance and BMVSS's expertise, this initiative promises to transform the lives of hundreds of individuals, providing them with the mobility and independence they deserve.
