16 NEWS
SUNday, june 30, 2013 | guyanatimeSGY.com
Rehabilitation unit moving GT&T launches “After 2 Belongs to U” promotion forward with new ventures, technology
Physical therapy at Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre
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Community-based rehabilitation at Kamarang, Region Seven
ehab Week 2013 culminated this Friday with an entertaining segment of karaoke, but over the years rehabilitation in Guyana has not always been fun and frolic. As the Rehabilitation Department of the Health Ministry celebrates the week of activities under the theme “Rehabilitation moving forward: New ventures, new technology”, there has been nostalgic reflection on the development of the field as well as a sense of optimism for the field’s potent future. Rehabilitation services have been provided by the Health Ministry for over six decades; starting from the year 1949, with physical therapy being the leading form of therapy available. The 1970s and 1980s saw major strides in the development of physiotherapy services. What began as one small department at the Georgetown Public Hospital, the provision of rehabilitation services has expanded through the establishment of other units in Georgetown, namely the Palms Geriatric Home and the Red Cross Convalescent Home for Children. As the pioneering field
for rehabilitation services in Guyana, physiotherapy services were also extended to hospitals in Regions Two, Three, Four, Six and 10. The 1970s saw specialised services for children with physical disabilities being introduced through the establishment of the Children’s Rehabilitation Centre referred to as the Polio Rehabilitation Centre and later renamed the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre. This facility provides longterm care for persons with profound disabilities. During this time, the fabrication of orthopaedic appliances and other assistive devices were introduced at the Children’s Rehabilitative Centre. As disability and injury became better understood in Guyana, rehabilitation services evolved to include occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, audiology, prosthetic and orthotic services and vocational skills training for persons with disabilities. Rehabilitation services can now be accessed throughout Guyana at the regional and district hospitals and in some cases at the level of the health centres. One of the more recent ventures has been intervention programmes which are being
provided at the special needs schools and homes for the elderly. With the vast majority of therapists trained abroad, it is hoped that the introduction of the medical rehabilitation degree programme at the University of Guyana will encourage growth in the specialist areas of physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy. Rehabilitation Services director and physiotherapist Barbara Lawrence believes the key areas of rehabilitation that will be earmarked for development lies in the field of Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR), and in incorporating preventative rehabilitation. Lawrence, who speaks with the candor and enthusiasm befitting a trained physical therapist with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Manitoba, spoke of moves to nationalise CBR, which targets persons with disabilities in their homes and villages. It is envisaged that paid and specially-trained volunteers will aid in providing hands on care to allow therapy to reach individuals outside medical institutions. The director also expressed keen interest in being able to offer prevention services, and earmarked increased promotion of safe practices and exercise. Rehabilitation has also ventured into the realms of early detection with the assistance of Maria Sheena Villareal, a physiotherapist from the Philippines specialising in that field.
GT&T staff take to the streets of Georgetown at the launching of the “After 2 Belongs to U” promotions on Saturday
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he Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company Limited (GT&T) on Saturday launched its newest promotion called “After 2 Belongs to U”. The deal allows customers more reasons to smile while talking and texting, and takes effect on July 1. The launch took the form of a road show which manoeuvered throughout the streets of Georgetown, with the telephone giant’s brand ambassadors, Jumo Primo, Adrian Dutchin and Calvin Burnette sensitising the public about the promotion. The three took time out to explain how the promo-
tions work. “It is simple, customers on the same network can make a call and after two minutes on that call, the next 10 minutes are absolutely free,” Primo said. In the same way, persons can send two text messages at the cost $8 each and text free for the rest of the day. The ambassadors noted that this promotion only applies for persons who are in possession of a GT&T sim-card. They also stated the promotion will be epic and will be one with a difference. “What you will find happening, persons will talk and text all day long,” Primo
opined. Customers only need the standard rates to send a text and make a call. The promotion will kick into gear on July 1 as part of GT&T’s summer promotion. The initiative will be an ongoing one and will also see customers winning fabulous prizes. The public was treated to several giveaways as the promotion rolled out on Saturday. The atmosphere was festive, with music arranged by GT&T. Several models were also having a ball as they distributed pamphlets and other items, sensitising the public about the promotion.
Culture Ministry “crunching figures” for local Carifesta delegation
Proactivity
As the National Rehabilitation Services Strategy is assessed and discussed in coming weeks, one can sense the air of proactivity in the approach of the National Commission on Disabilities. Lawrence believes that therapists should “champion physical activity and exercise”, and is hopeful that in the future this can be done by the specialists of exercise and fitness. With overwhelming evidence suggesting that exercise has positive effects on persons with chronic diseases, Lawrence believes that championing the drive toward increased physical activity can have positive implications on persons with diabetes, stroke, hypertension, Alzheimer’s and coronary heart disease. Studies have now shown that physically active persons with breast and prostate cancer are more likely to finish demanding chemotherapy regimens, and reduce their risk of cancer-related death. As a consequence, the Rehabilitation and Disability Services Department is ready to move forward into new ventures that could have enormous health benefits for the Guyanese population.
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Flashback! Dancers perform during Carifesta X in Guyana
ulture, Youth and Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony said the ministry is currently trying to “crunch its figures” to see how best it can utilise the funds available to transport and accommodate its 50-member delegation at the upcoming Caribbean Festival of Arts (Carifesta) in Suriname. Due to the new model formulated, participating countries in the Caribbean community (Caricom) have to pay their transportation costs to and from Carifesta as well as their accommodation expenses. In an interview with Guyana Times, Dr Anthony said, “We are now working out the cost because to find
housing and transport in Suriname is adding up to be quite a bit.” He said money from the $100 million Sports and Art Fund will be used to finance the local delegation. Dr Anthony noted that the ministry will not be able to pay for more than 50 persons as the cost would be too high, but stated that if there are persons who would like to go to Suriname and be a part of Guyana’s delegation, and are willing to pay their way to get there plus take care of their own expenses, the ministry is willing to consider bringing them onboard. He said the ministry has already approached the Suriname government to
see whether other persons can be accredited to go with the ministry, but is still awaiting a response. The minister disclosed too that the audition process for choosing the delegation which will be heading to Suriname to represent Guyana should be completed shortly. Carifesta XI which is slated for August 16 to 25 is a showcase of the work of artists, musicians and authors in the Caribbean and Latin American. The last Carifesta was held in Guyana in 2008 and saw numerous tourists flocking the country to attend the events. The first Carifesta took place in Guyana in 1972.