The gifted modular building to the NRH delivered to the hospital last September has now been assembled and an extension added to become the replacement rehabilitation workshop after the old facility had to be demolished after becoming infested by termites and white ants.
The former workshop was previous, but several years, used full time in making and custom fitting artificial legs to help patients of the NRH who had suffered the loss of a leg following surgery after succumbing to diabetes.
The NRH now has only one member of staff capable of making artificial legs and there are no spare parts and reportedly no funds to purchase the needed components.
The situation is serious because of the large numbers of amputees that have been waiting for years to be supplied with an artificial leg so they could become less dependent on others, more dependent and perhaps aid their return to work
The situation is more complicated because diabetes continues to see amputations occurring every week at the NRH.
I have set upon trying to help and the SFA helped with supplying the replacement workshop after an appeal I made locally.
My partner charity, ‘Take My Hands’ in New Zealand stands ready to help with prosthetic components but without money to ship the parts things are at a standstill.
I understand that the acquisition of parts to assemble artificial legs will be factured into the NRH’s 2022 budget needs, but I have no knowledge whether two trained technicians that were previously employed full time in making artificial legs will be re-employed full time, or on contract terms, to see the making and fitting of artificial legs in the numbers that are now needed. (Both of those staff members had been fully trained after being seconded to India, but were laid off when the old workshop fell into disuse).
I have made it a compelling passion for years to help the amputees but now with rapidly failing health I cannot see my efforts being sustained adequately and I request the help of others, including the MHMS, the Solomon Islands and SI’s diplomatic partners, particularly help via the US Consul in Honiara.
In the USA there is a large organization known as the Prosthetic Limb donations. A Fact Sheets (which can be downloaded) lists some eight (8) US organizations able to donate prosthetic limbs to dependent countries, but permission is required from Prosthetic Limb donations to reproduce the 8 organisations and their services.
I expect the US Consul could easily get more information and possibly help the NRH and the amputees.
I can say, Prosthetic components are generally not reused in the United States because of legal considerations. However, used prosthetic limbs may be disassembled and the components shipped to Third World countries for use by landmine victims and/or other individuals in need. The following organizations may accept donations of used prosthetic limbs and/or components, depending on their current program needs.
In India there is the organization called Planet Abled a social business based in Delhi, India, that provides accessible travel solutions and leisure excursions for people with various disabilities, tailored to their individual needs. It also mixes and matches people of different disabilities and offers a travel buddy programme, whereby a fellow traveler with no disability assists the traveler with a disability. Since its start in 2016, 200 travelers with disabilities have used the Planet Abled services.
I have made a request of Planet Abled via a contact enquiry form for help but await a reply.
The Government of India a good friend of the Solomon Islands and it is my suggestion the SIG/MHMS contacts the charity to see what help might be forthcoming.
Other diplomatic partners could offer help, or international agencies based in the Solomon Islands, and I believe should be approached because the needs and rights of the amputees in the Solomon Islands cannot go neglected any longer.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
