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DUHS launches free Pak-India prosthesis project
Karachi, Aug 25: The Jaipur Foot & Limb Society launched a free prosthesis
(artificial leg and foot) and calipers (post-polio deformity) project at the Dow
University of Health Sciences (DUHS) with the cooperation of the Rotary Club of
Karachi, Haswa and DUHS on Thursday. This is likely to serve 400 patients by
August 31 initially.
Speaking at a press conference at the DUHS, Dr
Mehta, Secretary of the Jaipur Foot & Limb society termed it the best way
for people of India and Pakistan,drawn by humanitarian concerns to get
acquainted. He said that "by rehabilitating disabled people we are bringing them
into the mainstream." They have already set up more projects like this in 20
countries and Pakistan is the 21st country to join them, he added.
Mehta
said that the artificial limbs developed in Jaipur are particularly suited to
the people of this region. The technology and knowledge for manufacturing and
implanting prosthesis will be transferred to Pakistan free of cost, he
added.
Moreover, according to Mehta, the limbs imported from Jaipur cost
about $67,000 (about Rs5.4 million) in the United States. However, their real
cost is about Rs2,000. Jaipur, by manufacturing more than 20,000 limbs this
year, has become the world's largest limb fixing centre.
Masood Hameed
Khan, the Vice Chancellor DUHS, announced setting up of the Dow University
Artificial Limbs Centre, which will provide limbs to the poor free of cost with
the help of philanthropists. He said it will become a permanent feature of the
university. He pointed out that the main aim of this project is the transfer of
technology, as Pakistani technicians will be trained in Jaipur to develop
quality limbs here as well.
Furthermore, Mehta announced that the Indian
high commissioner has offered full cooperation with regard to the visa and
traveling issues for technicians.
Mehta demonstrated two cases of
artificial limb implantation from India informing the media that they can walk
about 10 kilometres and offer their prayers at the temple easily. The age of
such limbs is normally three to four years, he added.
Aziz Memon,
Governor Rotary Club, Dr Nabeela Soomro of DUHS, Wasim Mirza, Awais and others
also spoke on the occasion. The news
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