A cross-border health partnership between the governments of Trinidad and Tobago and India is transforming the lives of hundreds of people living with limb loss, with more than 800 citizens already receiving free custom prosthetics and a new regional center set to expand access across the Caribbean.
Trinidad and Tobago’s Health Minister Dr. Lackram Bodoe confirmed that since the initiative launched last year, 803 people have received prosthetic devices, with 12 more recipients added just this week. Despite the program’s rapid progress, a waiting list of more than 1,000 people still remains, highlighting the unmet need for accessible prosthetic care in the region. Last week, during an official visit by India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar formally opened the National Prosthetics Centre in Penal. The new facility will not only serve local patients but also extend prosthetic services to member states of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), with Jaipur Foot USA partnering as a key stakeholder in the program.
Health officials note that diabetes stands as one of the leading causes of non-traumatic lower limb amputation in Trinidad and Tobago, driving much of the demand for the program. For many low-income patients, a single prosthetic limb can cost $25,000 or more, putting life-changing mobility out of reach. The program eliminates this financial barrier, providing devices completely free of charge to eligible recipients. Local outlet the Sunday Expedition spoke with several beneficiaries, who shared their personal journeys of loss, hardship, and renewed hope after receiving their prosthetics.
Anita Singh, a 43-year-old single mother from Point Fortin, lost her left foot to diabetic complications in 2020 following a cracked heel that developed into a life-threatening sepsis infection during the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the amputation, Singh worked full-time and supported her three children, but post-surgery complications left her unable to return to work. Without financial support from her children’s father and after multiple unsuccessful applications for government social assistance, she relied entirely on family and friends to make ends meet. “Just when I felt like giving up on the possibility of walking again, the current Government introduced a free prosthetic limb drive,” Singh shared. “Receiving that opportunity was one of the happiest moments of my life. After everything I had endured, it meant more than just receiving a prosthetic leg—it meant getting a second chance. It meant hope, independence, confidence, and the possibility of walking again.”
For 53-year-old Vindra Parson of Gasparillo, who had an below-ankle amputation as a young adult due to congenital spina bifida, the program has allowed her to accomplish long-held goals she once thought impossible. Prior to receiving her new prosthetic through the initiative last year, Parson relied on clunky, ill-fitting devices that eroded her confidence and limited her activities: her first government-issued prosthetic was made of leather, followed by one crafted from blue PVC pipe that drew unwanted stares in public, and a third that lasted 15 years before wearing out. Her new custom prosthetic, which closely matches her natural skin tone and is water-resistant, has opened up new possibilities. She has since swum at Clifton Hill beach, hiked to the top of Maracas Waterfall and Argyle Waterfall, and explored the Gasparee Caves—all activities she could never do before. “A lot of people think that when a limb is amputated life is over, but that is not so at all,” Parson said. “I do not see any limitations in the things that I can do. I would really like to thank Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and the Indian government and everybody involved in this initiative. The kindness and service that was provided was amazing. I went there at 7 a.m. and when I left in the evening I walked out wearing a new prosthetic that was designed and made for me in hours. That is truly remarkable and unheard of.”
Sean Cupid, 53, of Brazil, Trinidad, developed diabetic complications that led to a below-knee amputation in 2018, after he was diagnosed with diabetes nearly two decades earlier. As the sole breadwinner for his wife and three sons, Cupid struggled financially after his security contract ended, and he purchased his first prosthetic second-hand from eBay. When that device wore out, he received a free custom fitting through the program in October. Cupid, who has never used a wheelchair despite his amputation, encourages other amputees to pursue prosthetic care to regain their independence. He has even made his contact information public to support other patients navigating life after amputation. “This is not the end of your life,” Cupid said. “I am physically challenged—that is how I saw it and continue to see it. I am not limited to a wheelchair. People are afraid to get prosthetics because they are fearful of falling, but I would advise anybody to do it. This helps people get back independence in their life.”
The program also supports children born with congenital limb differences, not just adults who have undergone amputation. Joseph Ramkumar, a father from central Trinidad, has a three-year-old son Joash who was born with a right limb difference after the umbilical cord wrapped around his foot during pregnancy, a condition that was not detected during prenatal ultrasounds. Despite the difference, Joash is active, highly intelligent, and moves faster than his father, though he walks with a slight limp. The program will create a custom adaptive shoe to improve Joash’s balance and support his development as he grows. “I commend this effort; it will help many people,” Ramkumar said.
With the opening of the new permanent National Prosthetics Centre, program organizers expect to cut wait times and expand access to hundreds more patients across Trinidad and Tobago and the broader Caribbean region in the coming years.