The National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities, via a special grant from the Australian Government’s Australian Aid Programme, has opened a prosthetic repairs and manufacturing workshop at NCPD’s southern office located on New Dock Rd., Vieux Fort.
This initial workshop will make possible the fabrication, fitting and repair of basic prosthetic limbs specially targeting the many poor and elderly citizens who are in desperate need of this vital service but who cannot afford to travel overseas for the higher end artificial limb products.
Having been highlighted as having the highest rate of diabetes in the world, medical professionals in Saint Lucia have noted the fact that both diabetes and hypertension are affecting the lower socio-economic brackets of our society. Unfortunately, amputations are common complications among the poor and marginalized who are unable to seek treatment overseas.
Officials say a Prosthetic Repairs and Rehabilitation Workshop will bridge this significant gap and allow marginalized, disabled persons and amputees to access highly subsidized fittings and repairs without having to incur the intrinsic high costs of travelling out of island for prosthetics.
The prosthetic technicians are themselves amputees and users of prosthetic limbs who were specially trained to bring hope to fellow amputees and to demonstrate that disability is not inability.
Persons desirous of obtaining basic prosthetic limbs right here in Saint Lucia can contact NCPD’s offices.
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