Some 166 persons benefited from free spectacles last week, when a Ministry of Human Services and Social Security team held an outreach in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).
According to a Ministry of Human Services release, a team from the ministry, led by its minister, Dr. Vindhya Persaud visited the communities of Mabaruma and Moruca in Region Seven, on Friday March 24, 2023 to provide glasses to those in need, particularly children, pensioners and single parents.
Husband and wife of 53 years, Ivan and Juliet Bennet, were among the 166 people to receive free tested spectacles from the ministry through the Difficult Circumstances Unit (DCU).
Through the DCU, several assistive aids were also distributed in these communities to help people with permanent disabilities to improve their quality of life.
Head of the DCU Jashudra Seeram explained, “We are elated to see how our programmes positively impacts the lives of our citizens. This is in keeping with fulfilling the ministry’s mandate of service to the people. We were here a few weeks ago to do the testing and assessment in the shortest possible time. We are back to fulfil our commitment to ensure persons get the much-needed assistance. As a ministry, we are happy to be able to see the lives of people improved,” the release stated.
“It was challenging [without spectacles], I’m not young to work anymore and depending on old age pension, so I can’t afford it. It is going to improve my life because although I am old, I am doing needlework, making pillow case, table cloth and so on and this spectacles will help me to see the needle eye because I punish to thread the needle so it would help me in every way and when I go to church it would help me to read because I couldn’t read without it,” Juliet Benet was quoted as saying.
“For me, I am happy. We used to get visit from the doctors and they didn’t come in a very long time. Then was the first time I got my eyes checked and I got spectacles that didn’t last very long and I am happy the ministry came in… I must thank the Ministry of Human Services for these spectacles, I am happy to be able to see very clear,” the release quoted Ivan Benet as saying.
Samantha Matthews, a teacher from the Santa Rosa Primary School where over 50 students benefitted from the programme said that she was happy for the initiative. “I know the parents would be very happy because it is very costly to go on the coastland to get these things done and now they get it right in their own area. … Some of the children have problem with their eyes and when they do tests and in school they would complain about the pain in their eyes, and I think now they will have better results and see better,” the release quoted her as saying.
The minister also took the opportunity to underscore her ministry’s policy to ensure that people with permanent disabilities have a better quality of life.
Over 500 persons across the two locations benefitted from sessions that enlightened them about the services offered by the ministry such as childcare and protection, trafficking in persons, sexual offences and domestic violence and gender affairs. Persons also used the opportunity to seek out advice and clarification on their old age pension and public assistance, the release added.
