– Ramsammy says as Latter Day Saints donates 250 wheelchairs
Minister of Health D. Leslie Ramsammy said an increased focus would be placed on the mobility problems facing persons with disabilities, particularly young children.

Wheelchair boost: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donated 250 wheelchairs to the Health Ministry on Wednesday as part of a continuing partnership with the sector. In this photograph, Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy (left) accepts the donation from District President, Sanjay Pooran in the presence of ministry officials and church representatives.

He acknowledged the lack of an adequate supply of wheelchairs for persons with disabilities in this country saying that the health sector is open for discussions with any partner or charitable group willing to offer assistance. “Disability is not a sexy subject, it is not one that people want to talk about,” Ramsammy said.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donated 250 wheelchairs to the health sector on Wednesday during a simple hand-over ceremony. The church also donated basic walkers; crutches and canes to the sector as part of a partnership which started back in 2001. To date, the church has donated close to 1,000 wheelchairs to the health sector.

Attorney-at-law Leslie Sobers, speaking on behalf of the church, said the humanitarian effort is a global one which stretches back for many years. He said the church has donated more than 50,000 wheelchairs and walking aids in various countries and just after making the donation, it gave a commitment to donate an additional 250 wheelchairs by year end.

The children of the Ptolemy Reid Centre are among those to benefit from this recent donation and Ramsammy expressed gratitude to the church. He said government is not in a position to provide a wheelchair to every person in the country who needs one, adding that it is a goal they are working on. He urged the church to continue its partnership with the sector and to “support the disabled” in the country.

Ramsammy also commented that the Disability Bill, which is currently before a Select Committee, is likely to be passed within two months. He said work on the legislation is almost complete and it would be ready for passage shortly. He also announced that the health sector recently procured its first vehicle which is specifically designed to transport persons with disabilities. “I am aware that many minibuses out there don’t stop for persons with wheelchairs,” he said, noting that the new vehicle is specifically for accommodating persons in wheelchairs.

Further, he threw out an appeal for a mobile audio-logical lab saying that the health sector needs one to assist persons with hearing loss who reside outside the city.