| Font Size |
"We acquired this van three months ago. We held one camp with the van in Bhiwandi, which is close to Mumbai where we were able to provide help to people from five villages. However, this is our first long distance trip," said Narayan Vyas, administrative officer of the samiti at the KEM Hospital in Mumbai, who is coordinating this camp for the BMVS.
Parked opposite Samarth Hospital at Mitramandal Chowk, the mobile workshop van is a symbol of hope for those waiting in the adjoining camp either crippled by polio or with amputated limbs.
"We have held countless such camps where we transported the required instruments and the necessary material in a vehicle. But this van comes ready made with the instruments," said Vyas.
With machines that include a cutter, drill, anvil, oven to give shape to the artificial limb along with an inbuilt generator the van comes with a price tag of Rs 30 lakh.The Rotary Club of Poona Downtown and the Lioness Club of Kings Circle, Mumbai are paying for the prosthetics provided at the camp, which is why it would be free for the patients.
"People in the rural fringes cannot afford the artificial limbs of travel to Mumbai. Nor are they aware that these prosthetics will help them," said Madhav Borate, an orthopedic doctor and a Rotary Club member.
Typically an artificial limb would work out to atleast Rs 15,000 while a caliper would start with Rs 6,000, said Vyas. Many who had come to the camp could not afford to pay for the prosthetics on their own, he said.
One such candidate -- 20-year-old Manisha Dhordia Banole from Wanorie, waited for a caliper for her right leg affected by polio. Her left leg has outgrown the polio stricken right one because of which her posture is bent. "The new caliper made for her will have a heel which will correct her posture," said Vyas.
However, on Tuesday only a sprinkling of people like Manisha waited outside for their prosthetics. In all 92 people had registered for the camp. On Tuesday seven patients came from Pune. But the organisers are expecting people to walk in as the camp progresses and hope to reach around 300 in the following week.
"It is the first day of the camp, maybe it will pick up from tomorrow," said Shraddha Vyas, HR and Admin head of BMVS.
"The turnout is definitely below our expectations. We have material ready for at least 400 patients. When we have held camps in the past, our technicians have worked from dawn to dusk without rest. It has not happened today," said Vyas.
Discuss this story on expressindia forums
|
|
Really sir you are doing right job. you are like God for polio affected. sir i am also a student with left leg polio affected. i want that caliper. what will i have to do for that. i am enthustic reading this and i have generated hope that i can also walk with better ease. i am ready to pay if u need but i need that caliper i am third year engineering student branch- mechanical national institute of technology, patna,bihar i am also interested for doing research on instrument development for disables so that i can make life better of persons like me but i do not have any idea that from whare i start can you help me sir? please i belong to backward village of bihar i am interested in this field from begining but i do not have any idea and also no any suitable person in contact if can do anything for me then please mail me or call me. my mob. no. is 09852219716