TODAY, the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce will begin the disbursement of the $36 million revolving fund for Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs).

The activity will commence at 14:00 hours at the Small Business Bureau in La Penitence, and the Minister of Tourism, Oneidge Walrond, and the Human Services Minister Vindhya Persaud are both expected to be there.

Earlier this month, thousands of vulnerable Guyanese sought refuge through programmes offered by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security’s Difficult Circumstances Unit.

In an interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI), Subject Minister, Dr. Persaud said since the government took office three years ago, a series of transformative initiatives have been introduced, aimed at uplifting the lives of vulnerable populations.

Among the most influential projects put into action is the ‘Pampers Bank’, which was initiated to support vulnerable families with infants.

The programme has evolved into a crucial lifeline for persons living with disabilities (PWDs), and senior citizens, allowing them to get up to three months’ worth of supplies.

Minister Persaud also said that the process is simple, and requires only basic information, and a means test to ensure assistance reaches those who need it most.

For persons living with disabilities, the minister emphasised the significance of providing assistive aids.

As she explained: “No such programme existed before, and coming into office in 2020, I was struck at how difficult it was for persons who lived with disabilities, especially those with mobility issues, to access these assistive aids.”

Taking into account this gap, the ministry acted swiftly to ensure access to essential aids such as wheelchairs, walkers, and white canes. Persons can now request these aids and have them delivered directly to their homes or communities.

Additionally, the ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, has developed a well-established referral pathway for persons to access free hearing aids.

The government has taken a holistic approach to empower persons living with disabilities through development training, to improve their quality of life.

These programmes include basic computer training, job access with speech (JAWS) for the visually impaired, garment construction, adult literacy, and numeracy.

As a result, nearly 500 persons living with disabilities have received specialised training tailored to their unique needs.

Additionally, to foster entrepreneurship and economic independence among persons living with disabilities, the government has established the Revolving Fund, specifically dedicated to supporting micro-enterprises initiated by these individuals.

Meanwhile, in late 2021, an eye care programme was launched to provide vision care to underserved communities and vulnerable citizens.

The initiative has already made a profound impact, with over 3,000 pairs of spectacles distributed to date.

The government has also been actively involved in providing hampers, assisting with funeral expenses, and helping individuals affected by property damage, particularly due to fires.