THE Ministry of Human Services and Social Security executed a successful action programme of providing for vulnerable segments of society, such as children, the elderly, differently able, sick, victims of domestic violence and trafficking in persons (TIP), Minister with the portfolio, Ms. Jennifer Webster reported Monday. The assistance provided included – fire relief, funeral expenses, eye care for senior citizens and needy children, hearing aids, housing, disaster relief, transportation costs for the disabled, small business grants for victims of domestic abuse and the Women of Worth (WOW) (who head single parent homes).
For 2013 the Ministry intends to continue improving efficiency in the quality of delivery throughout the ten Administrative Regions, she said, during a review of its 2012 activities and projections for 2013 in the Water Street, Stabroek boardroom.
Also present were Mrs. Lorene Baird, Permanent Secretary within the Ministry; Mr. Patrick Findlay, Deputy Permanent Secretary; Mr. Whentworth Tanner, Director of Social Services; Ms. Anne Greene, Director of the Child Care and Protection Agency (CC&PA) and Mr. Forbes Monroe, Acting Chief Probation Officer.
The Minister disclosed that millions of dollars were spent on social security services as it relates to monetary grants for promoting health and the well-being of vulnerable segments of society.
The small business grants to those who suffered from domestic abuse were aimed at reducing or eliminating the dependency of victims on their abusers, she said.
According to her, the Ministry investigated 32 allegations of trafficking in persons (TIP) and laid charges based on six of those accusations, which are now before the courts.

WOW Scheme
Minister Webster revealed that, since the establishment of the WOW Scheme, the total number of loans disbursed with the collaboration of the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) had increased significantly.  
Lending under the Ministry’s WOW project was provided for such income generating activities as poultry rearing, garment manufacturing, leathercraft and cosmetology.
She said it was noteworthy that, in 2012, there were 61 new borrowers and the sum of $16.4M was disbursed to beneficiaries.
There were also 67 women who were granted WOW second loans, two, third loans and one, a fourth.
Minister Webster said work with WOW will continue this year with the emphasis on highlighting the very important role of women in the economy.
For 2013, the Ministry is currently  carrying out a diagnostic review of its activities to strengthen and improve the administration of its operations in all of the ten Administrative Regions of Guyana.
The Ministry also plans to complete the national action plan on gender-based violence during the first quarter of the year and create a strategy for the next five years as a management tool for implementing its programme in accordance with policies.
“We also plan to look at having additional probation and social service officers assigned to respective Regions to provide specific social services in the Regions,” Minister Webster said.

Other proposals
Other proposals include the formal opening up of the shelter for the homeless at Onverwagt, West Coast Berbice, the Children’s Home at Mahaica, East Coast Demeara and the establishment of the Family Court, all in the first quarter of this year.
A resuscitated National Commission on the Elderly will seek to identify programmes which support the continued involvement of senior citizens in the economic, cultural and community life of the country to boost their self-esteem.
The Commission will also look at training of persons in care of the elderly as well as legislation to protect senior citizens from abuse.
The programme for the CC&PA will include establishing a department which will specifically address the issue of non-payment of children maintenance by fathers as well as strengthening of the foster care process as an alternative for children at risk.
The Ministry plans to de-institutionalise such children through the provision of increased support for parents so they could take them back and the development of a special care process for those with disability.
The Ministry will reorganise and decentralise its services so that there are more child care officers placed within all of the Administrative Regions and there would be a national campaign to stop child abuse.
About the work of the Men’s Affairs Bureau (MAB), Findlay said, apart from meeting in the office and counselling with men and families, it has been able to do a lot of work in the communities in trying to, significantly, reduce gender based and domestic violence.
He said the MAB will, in 2013, redouble its efforts to bring some measure of stability in this worrisome area.