Gulu’s amputees get limbs

Mar 07, 2004

In war-ravaged Gulu, attacks by rebels of the Lord’s Resistance Army, landmines, physical fights and traffic accidents are among the leading causes of injuries that

By Tony Langalanga

In war-ravaged Gulu, attacks by rebels of the Lord’s Resistance Army, landmines, physical fights and traffic accidents are among the leading causes of injuries that are overwhelming hospitals in the district. It is now common to see a people with missing limbs.

From January to December 2003, up to 41 people have died as a result of injuries caused by accidents on the road, says Richard Mvule, Gulu District Police Commander. However, medical sources say, war-related injuries far out number traffic accidents.
In Gulu Regional Referral Hospital (GRRH), the staff at the orthopedic workshop have identified and registered up to 1,183 amputees since 1999, says Dr Felix Kaducu, the medical superintendent of the hospital.

Kaducu 629 amputees have been treated and fitted with artificial limbs made at the workshop. They are now able to move about.
Another 554 amputees have not yet been treated.
“The majority of amputees are a result of the war in northern Uganda and were injured by bomb blasts, gunshots, landmines, or mutilation by the rebels.” says Kaducu.

He says there are also medical conditions that have caused 377 people to lose their limbs from diseases such as osteomyelitis, gangrene, leprosy, congenital, cancer, ulcers, and other infections. He says other crippling injuries totalling 170 were caused by traffic accidents, burns and attacks by animals.

Emmanuel Kalanzi, the senior orthopedic technologist and workshop manager, says they fix artificial limbs free of charge.
“Many amputees are now walking with the artificial limbs and they are very happy because they have thrown away the crutches,” says Kalanzi.

The amputees treated in Gulu Hospital mainly come from Gulu, Kitgum and Pader districts while a few originate from Arua, Apach, Adjumani, Kotido, Lira, Moroto, Moyo, Nakapiripirit, Nebbi and Yumbe districts.
The workshop was constructed with the assistance of the Italian Government and an Italian NGO pays for the artificial limbs.

One of the earliest beneficiaries of the workshop was Kuranimus Adoko who lost his left leg when cattle raiders from Karamoja stormed Apac District.
Adoko says he did not expect to walk again but the artificial limb enabled him to do so.
“God is great. I am optimist that I will be able to do a lot of work while walking with these artificial limbs,” he says.

The Kampala-based Injury Control Centre confirmed that Gulu and other war-ravaged districts have the highest incidence of trauma. As a result, the organisation has started training doctors at Lacor Hospital on emergency care, first aid and general trauma care, says Mable Nakitto, the Community Services Officer.

The Injury Control Centre is working on peace campaigns in primary schools in the hope of reduce conflicts that cause these injuries. However, these efforts have not quite helped reduced the number of people who suffer from injuries. The list of people waiting for artificial limbs is not less than 500.

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