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From the Bangkok Post Thurs. Feb 24th, 2005... Tsunami victims to be fitted with durable artificial limbs ACHADTAYA CHUENNIRAN Phuket _ More than 200 residents of Phuket, Phangnga and Surat Thani who lost limbs in the December disaster will be fitted with durable prosthetics, starting next month, under a Public Health Ministry project. Public Health Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan, after visiting Wachira Phuket hospital in Muang district and giving wheelchairs to three handicapped tsunami survivors yesterday, said 209 people from three southern provinces needed the artificial limbs to live normal lives. To celebrate HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn's 50th birthday this year, the Medical Services Department's Sirindhorn disability rehabilitation centre is racing ahead with a 3.3-million-baht project to help those left handicapped by the tsunami. Mobile medical teams will provide treatment and distribute artificial limbs and equipment, Mrs Sudarat said. Dr Chatri Banchuen, director-general of the Medical Services Department, said the centre would send mobile medical units to Wachira Phuket Hospital, Phangnga and Satun on March 7-11 to fit the disabled with durable artificial limbs and special equipment and teach the handicapped how to take good care of themselves. Each limb would be made of resin and polypropylene, with the cost ranging from 10,000 to 50,000 baht, and take up to two days to build. They would be made from five-million-baht worth of material donations from Germany and should last 10 years. |