Tuesday, August 05, 2008 44 more amputees to get artificial legs
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The prostheses (artificial legs) distribution of the Kapampangan Development Foundation (KDF) here over the weekend has attracted more walk-in patients.
Forty-four new amputee patients have submitted themselves to prosthesis measurement at the Social Action Center of Pampanga (Sacop) in Barangay Maimpis here. Eleven prostheses were also distributed to previously measured amputees.
KDF started their prosthesis program since last year as part of their "Walking Free Pampanga" advocacy that aims to make the province's amputees mobile again. The project is in coordination with the Physicians for Peace, which takes charge of the prosthesis construction.
Dr. Penny Bundoc of Physicians for Peace said they can accommodate the influx of new patients but have expressed concern over the availability of supplies and materials for the prostheses.
Bundoc said most of the materials come from donations from the US but added that KDF still has the burden of shouldering freight charges and other materials needed for assembling prosthesis that are not available in the country.
"We need all the help we can get, and this is where organizations like KDF come in," Bundoc said, adding that they are now looking at local sources for materials.
Previously, KDF was able to get the help of Clark Development Corporation (CDC) for laboratory space inside Clark Freeport.
Bundoc said much of needed prosthesis demands would be met if the prosthesis laboratory would go full operation by October and once needed supplies are met.
KDF president Benigno Ricafort said they are also having a problem on mobilizing amputees in far-flung barangays in various towns. But he said they would be clustering some areas to better accommodate the mobilization and transportation of amputees for measurement of prostheses. (IOF)
