SANGRE GRANDE miracle baby Josiah Arthur who was born without toes and fingers, but who surprised his parents by still being able to make good use of his “stumps”, will soon be fitted with prosthesis hands and feet.

In fact, from as early as next month, the 15-month-old will be walking around with toes and eating with his fingers.

And students from College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago (COSTAATT) will soon be trained on how to make these prosthesis limbs.

This from Minister of Health John Rahael, who said that his ministry had embraced the initiative of providing prosthesis to children and adults.

Rahael was at the time speaking to the media at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex.

The Health Minister did not disclose the exact figure that such an undertaking would cost, but said it was very expensive.

“There is a joint initiative between the Ministry of Health and Missions International, where we have to pay a lot less,” he explained.

“The cost is not cheap; it is around $15,000 to $20,000 for one limb, but an arrangement has been made and the cost is being drastically reduced.”

Houston-based US Corporation TBL Consultants LLC will be ensuring that prosthesis for hands, legs and orthotics are made for amputees in Trinidad and Tobago.

Rahael admitted he first became aware about the plight of Josiah when he read his heart-rending story in the Sunday Mirror on December 25.

“You see, we did something about the case,” the Health Minister noted to Mirror.

Although baby Josiah runs and walks with ease, his parents, July and Perry Arthur, said that they were very happy with the intervention of the Ministry of Health.

Father, Perry Arthur said he felt excited about the idea that his son would soon be able to function normally.

Minister JOHN RAHAEL looks
at SUE MARA AKONG (left)
and JONEAL SANDERS (right)
as they practise walking on
their new legs.

Born without hands and feet
JOSIAH ARTHUR can still run
normally. Here he is being
held by his mother JULY
ARTHUR, while father
PERRY looks on.

Josiah was born with Amniotic Band Syndrome (ABS).

Others being fitted with prosthesis were 17-year-old Sue Mara Akong who lost her leg on July 3, after she was chopped about the body and seven-year-old Joneal Sanders.

Akong, who attends St. Joseph’s Convent, Port of Spain, said she felt “bitter sweet” about being fitted with the prosthesis, as her sister had died during the chopping incident.

But she admitted the prosthesis would enable her to work more independently.

Sanders used crutches before the prosthesis was added, and both he and Akong would eventually not need the aid of crutches, after they get accustomed to their new legs.

Rahael said the health service would continue screening additional patients, and children would most likely have the first preference over the adults.

Speaking about setting up a plant where the prosthesis products could be made in Trinidad and Tobago, he said that it was an ongoing discussion.

He also said that he had spoken to the Minister of Science and Technology Mustapha Abdul-Hamid about the training of students from COSTAATT to help in the manufacture of the products.

“We will not only satisfy those in this country but in other Caribbean countries as well.”

The doctor who had overseen the fitting of the prosthesis legs for both children said that their goal was to return every individual back as a functioning one.

Rahael urged citizens, however, to be more health conscious and to focus on primary and preventative health care.

“You have the responsibility for your own health,” he advised

He assured other patients waiting to be examined for fittings that their time would come soon.

When asked about the recent rumours of the bird flu here in Trinidad, he said: “There is no bird flu.

“I was never overly concerned.

“The media need to try and confirm these things before sensitising the public over things like this.

“It is not unusual that hundreds of chickens died this year.

“That happened last year too.”

Rahael, who some call the most hard-working Health Minister this country has ever seen, said that he even had a meal of chicken for lunch just before he came to the Press conference.