57 disadvantaged, disabled children operated, given limbs

A total of 57 disadvantaged, disabled children including adults were on Sunday operated and given artificial limbs.

The operation spearheaded by Narayan Seva Sansthan in conjunction with Ministry of Health, Uganda which started on Friday was carried out at Mulago referral hospital by local doctors.   

According to Dharmendra Agarwal, 15 of the children were operated on both legs. He added that the entire exercise cost them sh70m. The children had craniofacial abnormities, including cleft lip and palate.

People with disabilities.

 

Statistic show that craniofacial abnormalities, especially cleft lip and palate, are the most common childhood birth defects in Uganda and families often associate them with witchcraft.

He appealed to the local government cooperates to join hands with them so that they can help more disabled people across the country.

During the event, those who were given artificial limbs were trained on how to use them. They were taught how to remove, wear and take care of the limbs so that they can last for long.

Agarwal said the disadvantaged will take three days to adopt using the artificial limps, adding that exercise helps their body to be familiar with the limbs.

"Persons who walk with the help of clutches need to be prepared mentally, so that they can be able to create simple jobs for themselves like opening shops," he said.

Melisa Kirabo after an operation with Neala Hudda,the treasurer of Indian Women's Association

 

Timon Musinguzi, a resident of Bushenyi, who also received an artificial limb, revealed that on December 27, 2010 he was involved in an accident, where he was first pronounced dead before he was admitted to Kampala International Hospital, Bushenyi branch. Musinguzi is a former teacher of Kyogyera Secondary School in Bushenyi.

"As I was riding a motorcycle with my wife seated at the back, a car knocked us from behind and I fell down and my wife told people I was dead and contacted by best man who came with a car and found that I was breathing," He narrated to a mammoth of crowds that had turned up for diagnosis and treatment.

While at the hospital, Musinguzi said they wanted to operate his head but his relatives refused because the hospital had inadequate equipment and they were later referred to International hospital in Kampala where they underwent an operation at a cost of sh15m.

According to Musinguzi, part of his left leg was cut-off, but his hope of walking was restored when he got a free artificial limb. However, Musinguzi who is survived by 5 children disclosed that he lost his job due to the accident.