Indian emergency hospital had treated nearly 50,000 Tamil IDPs in 2009! It had fitted artificial limbs and other devices to 1,400 beneficiaries.!!!

Monday, 12 April 2010

Artificial limb fitting camp at Menik Farm

Indian High Commissioner, Ashok K. Kantha at the function

Indian Government: In keeping with its commitment to assist Sri Lanka in addressing various challenges related to the aftermath of the armed conflict in North India held an artificial limb fitment camp in the Northern Province from March 13 to April 8. The camp, which is fully funded by the Indian Government was run by a team of 19 experts from the Jaipur-based Bhagwan Mahavir Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS), the world famous non-governmental organization better known as "Jaipur Foot". The BMVSS has the distinction of having fitted the largest number of limbs to disabled persons around the world and is well-known for the innovative and user-friendly devices that it has developed over the years.

In Sri Lanka, the Jaipur Foot camp was set up in Zone 1 of Menik Farm in Vavuniya district. It was run from the same location where the Indian emergency hospital had earlier, in 2009, treated nearly 50,000 IDPs. The camp, which was officially inaugurated on March 19 by Indian High Commissioner, Ashok K. Kantha, and Social Services and Social Welfare Minister, Douglas Devananda, started functioning from March 13. By the time the camp closed on April 8, it had fitted artificial limbs and other devices to 1,400 beneficiaries. These included 1,087 prosthesis (limbs), 123 orthosis (calipers) and 190 crutches.

The Indian Government remains committed to continuing its assistance to the IDP population in the Northern Province to help them return to normalcy and dignity with peace.

dalynews.lk