THE Ministry of Health’s Disability and Rehabilitation Division yesterday launched its tenth annual rehabilitation week under the theme “Rehabilitation Moving Forward: New Ventures, New Technologies” with a Prayer Breakfast at the Promenade Gardens, Middle Street, Cummingsburg. This event signalled the start of a week-long programme of countrywide activities which are designed to promote the value and importance of rehabilitation; while saluting the professionals that provide these services.
Speaking to the state media yesterday, Director of Rehabilitation Services of the Health Ministry, Ms. Barbara Lawrence said that the week’s activities are centered on raising awareness of the range of services they provide.
She explained that as a result of these activities, they hope that more persons will seek their services whether they have a hearing or speech impairment, or a problem with mobility.
“We believe that everyone has a contribution to make so although you might have suffered an injury or have become paralysed or have lost function because of some illness you can be rehabilitated and come back to make a contribution to society and that is where we come in,” she declared.
Ms. Lawrence noted that they want these persons to have a more purposeful existence, so that they can contribute to the development of the country.
She noted that they are also taking the opportunity to show appreciation to their staff for their hard work, and to show them how much they are valued.
 
STREET OUTREACH
According to her, the calendar of events will continue today at 09:00 hours with a street outreach in the vicinity of the City Mall, as well as  Republic Bank on Water Street to raise awareness among members of the public.
She related that they will also be distributing shoes to the school children tomorrow in the Kamarang area of Region Seven (Cuyuni/Mazaruni) where they have a small unit.

STROKE SURVIVORS SESSION
On Wednesday there will be a staff development session at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), as well as a Stroke Survivors Organization induction session.
Ms. Lawrence also informed that on Thursday they have a retreat where they will bring all the staff together to foster team spirit and help them to be familiar with each other outside of the working environment.
The week-long programme of activities will culminate with a “Culture Fest and Song Competition” among the various regions.
She pointed out that the activities are being conducted in all of the administrative regions, since they have services available countrywide.
According to a Health Ministry press release, also included in this year’s itinerary is an extensive media campaign involving radio, television and newspapers, a symposium for teachers of two nursery schools, staff of Geology and Mines Commission, and the Guyana and Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T).
The release stated that the Health Ministry continues to accentuate Rehabilitation Services in Guyana while striving towards one of its goals: “All preventable disabilities are reduced and all persons with disabilities are receiving equitable and high quality services that enable them to function as equal citizens”.
“Rehab Week” was first launched in June 2003 under the theme “Reaching Out”.