Initiative to provide free prosthetic limbs

Thiruvananthapuram: In a first of its kind initiative in the state, Thiruvananthapuram-based KIMS Hospital has launched a centre to provide prosthetic limbs to amputees totally free of cost as part of its CSR activities, The project is implemented in association with Bhagavan Mahaveer Viklang Sahaya Samithi (BMVSS),
The ‘KIMS-Jaipur Foot (BMVSS) Centre’ was formally inaugurated on Wednesday by D R Mehta, who is the founder and chief patron of BMVSS, which has till date served over 1.73 million amputees in India and those in 26 other countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Addressing a news conference here on Tuesday, Mehta said the BMVSS was tying up with a corporate hospital for the first time in India ‘as the organization always insisted on free distribution of artificial limbs’. Meanwhile, KIMS chairman Dr M I Sahadulla said the several institutions and companies like Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) have already evinced interest in joining the initiative.

“For the time being, the new centre will be able to cater to only five persons a day. But appointments will have to be time-slotted as we expect heavy rush right from the beginning. After strengthening our staff and facilities, more centres would come up in Kerala and in Tamil Nadu and even in Sri Lanka at a later stage,” Dr Sahadulla said.

Using the Jaipur foot, below-knee amputees will be able to sit, run, squat, climb, walk and swim with ease. Besides the Jaipur foot, the new centre will provide self-lubricating Stanford-Jaipur knee. For more details and to get appointments people can contact 0471-3041113, the authorities said. tnn