Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill yesterday announced that as a result of an expanded partnership with Eye Care Guyana, 1,500 eyeglasses will be provided to persons in need.
During a presentation of the national budget 2020, under the area of visual impairments, Edghill said the intention is to increase the amount to 5,000 annually. As he further addressed the issue of caring for individuals with visual impairments, he was pleased to disclose their expansion with Eye Care Guyana, which he said will complement 13 new optometrists who recently entered the system.
Under the topic of Persons with Disabilities, the minister alluded to the beginner stage that exists in Guyana as it relates to caring for such persons. He noted that while challenges associated with disabilities were many, a failure pointed out was the inability to diagnose it at its early stages, and by extension to offer support to those affected.
He gave notice of the Government’s intention to work with various agencies and stakeholder organisations to guarantee “opportunities for training, employment, and effective diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitative support and services” across the ten administrative regions in Guyana. He added that the disability programme is collaborating with the Starkey Hearing Foundation “to screen, assess and fit over 1000 persons with hearing aids in Regions Four and Nine, this year.”
The minister assured that the new Government administration is committed to the welfare and wellbeing of the Guyanese people and that its aim is to continue to deliver vital services to vulnerable groups.
