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From the Bangkok Post Sat. Jan. 15th, 2005... More than 800 disabled for rest of lives Many wave survivors required amputations APIRADEE TREERUTKUARKUL More than 800 tsunami victims in southern Thailand have been physically and mentally disabled for life after being severely injured by the tsunamis last month, health authorities said yesterday. Public Health Ministry figures showed about 10% of a total of 8,457 injured patients were physically and mentally disabled after the waves hit six coastal provinces along the Andaman Sea on Dec 26. Most patients' arms or legs had been severely injured from impacts with waves, trees and debris so they had to be amputated. Up to 500 disabled patients are still staying in hospitals in Phangnga, Phuket, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Surat Thani. ``A lot of people lost physical abilities permanently in the catastrophic tsunami. Therefore, short- and long-term rehabilitation plans should be initiated to help them,'' Chatree Banchuen, director-general of the Medical Services Department, said. The department has allocated 10 million baht to make prosthetic arms and legs as well as wheelchairs, walkers and tripods for disabled patients, most of them local villagers, fishermen and children. Artificial limbs and accessories will be provided free of charge. After the tsunami, wheelchairs at hospitals in Phangnga's Takua Pa district and in Phuket for local patients ran out after injured foreign tourists took them when they returned to their home countries, said Pattariya Jarutat, director of the Sirindhorn National Medical Rehabilitation Centre that is overseeing the rehabilitation project. A long-term rehabilitation plan would also be mapped out to improve their living conditions, as the centre was working with the Labour and Social Development and Human Security ministries to provide physical therapy, occupational training and loans for disabled villagers, she said. The centre is also welcoming donations of artificial limbs and necessary accessories to improve the disabled people's quality of life at phone numbers 0-2591-5455 and 0-2591-3748. Meanwhile, Samuel Ward Casscells, the personal doctor of President George W. Bush, yesterday praised Thailand for its disease control measures after visiting the areas hit by the tsunamis in Phangnga and Phuket provinces. |