THE Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre (PRRC) of 131 Carmichael Street, South Cummingsburg, Georgetown, yesterday launched its 45th anniversary as an institution dedicated to enhancing the lives of persons with disabilities. In commemoration thereof, a colourful and attractively designed calendar that highlighted the institution’s routine programme of activities, and participation in national festivities, was printed and distributed as a memorabilia which would sensitize and serve to constantly remind persons of activities taking place at the centre.
On this memorable occasion, staff and members of the Management Committee embraced the opportunity to reflect on what has been achieved over that period, and what currently obtains at the Centre, including the various types of services offered to the public.
The welcome was done by Colonel (retd.) Randolph Storm, Chairman of the Management Committee, and a brief history of the institution was delivered by Mr. Hemant Indar Singh, Public Relations Officer of the Management Committee.
Mr. Singh recalled that the centre was originally established in January 1967 by the Ministry of Health, to provide rehabilitative services for those children who had suffered residual paralysis following the 1960 and 1964 poliomyelitis epidemics. With the control of this disease and subsequent reduction of cases of this type, the Centre developed into an organization providing comprehensive programmes in rehabilitation for children with various types of physical and other developmental disabilities, it was learnt.
Singh said that, in 1991, in an effort to improve resource acquisition so as to expand and provide quality service more effectively and efficiently, the Centre was de-linked from the Ministry of Health, and is now managed by a voluntary management committee. Government provides an annual subvention and professional staff, while the board raises funds, both locally and externally, to finance its operations.
Rehabilitation Officer Ms. Cynthia Massay added that the Centre has grown considerably – from a small organization servicing only those children affected by poliomyelitis epidemics in the 1960s, to their present position where they now provide a range of services for children with physical and developmental disabilities, adults with hearing and visual problems, and amputees.
By 1998, the Centre was able to implement its audiology service for persons with hearing problems.  Among the services provided at the Centre are the building of orthotic and prosthetic limbs, hearing aids, and the like.
The Centre has an amputee clinic which is geared to work with amputees who would have been discharged from hospital following the removal of limbs.  They are fitted with artificial limbs and trained in the use of those limbs, among other things.
Meanwhile, Singh concurred that, with the expansion of the Orthotic and Prosthetic Workshop, the facility is now able to, and indeed does, manufacture “almost any appliance that may be required by persons with physical disabilities”.
The high quality of work produced at the centre in these areas has won the admiration of the Directors of the Barr Foundation of Florida, who were on a visit here some years ago.  They commended the technicians, and commented that the Ptolemy Reid Workshop was better equipped than many they had visited elsewhere.
Additionally, the young people and staff at the Centre are engaged in fun things, such as kite flying, participation in Mashramani and Diwali, in-door and outdoor games; and are taught cooking, gardening and such skills. Moreover, they have won national competitions during the Mashramani observances.  The centre now provides for vocational rehabilitation.
The Ptolemy Reid Centre is able to provide services for up to thirty (30) residents, while the out-patient clinics register in excess of 1,090 new patients each year.
The Centre has a policy of employing and training persons with disabilities wherever possible, in the areas of nursing, security, special education, and the clerical section.
Eminently proud of the work of the Centre and its accomplishments to date, as well as its involvement, culturally and otherwise, Colonel (ret’d) Storm concluded, “We want people to know that this is the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre, and we have a place in the Guyanese society!”
The launching of the Memorabilia Calendar yesterday signalled the start of activities in observance of the 45th anniversary of the Centre.  Other signal activities to be presented on a quarterly basis include: 
* An inter-faith service on January 15th
* A gala fund-raising dinner in May
* An awards presentation ceremony
* A fund-raising walk-a-thon in October
* The Children’s Christmas Concert
Meanwhile, adding his name to the list of sponsors was Pandit Mukchand Persaud who, during the ceremony, presented a cheque to offset the cost of printing new brochures for the 45th anniversary. Sponsors named were:  Sterling Products Ltd; GT&T; DIGICEL; Gafoors; Republic Bank; Banks DIH; Hand-in-Hand;  Guyana and Trinidad Mutual (GTM);  King’s Jewellery World;  ScotiaBank; Food for the Poor; GuyEnterprise and Guyana Net.   
Rehabilitation Officer Ms. Janice Simmons delivered the vote of thanks to the donors and others supporting the cause.