The launching ceremony of the Mobile Audio-Visual, Diabetic Screening and Prosthetic Limb Facility and Jaipur Foot Limbs to the Colombo Friend-In-Need Society took place on November 10 in the presence of Arindam Bagchi, Deputy High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka, Rotarian K R Ravindran the first Rotary International President from Sri Lanka, District Governor, Senake Amerasinghe, Rotarians from Mumbai and the distinguished invitees.
In 2011 the Colombo Friend In Need Society (CFINS), sought the assistance of the Rotary Club of Capital City to help upgrade their products. The donation of Jaipur Foot Limbs was made annually to CFINS in partnership with the Rotary Clubs of Mumbai. In the year 2014 the function held at CFINS was graced by District Governor, Gowri Rajan, Y.K. Sinha, former High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka, Rotarians from Mumbai led by the Rotary Club of Bombay Airport, members of the Rotary Club of Capital City and members of CFINS.
At the Mobile Prosthetic Limbs camp held in Ampara, 71 amputees were attended to. For the first time in its history, introduction of plastic sockets were possible due to the availability of Bombay components. Previously the manufacture of plastic sockets had been tedious and impractical. Benefits derived by the recipients are as follows; the Bombay limb was a lighter product than hitherto used, less time consumed in production, less costly and different to the western ones, based on Indian Technology and more comfortable to the patient.
In 2015 it was decided to replace their 13 year old Mobile Bus with a modern Bus fully equipped for treatment of people in need of medical help for Eye, Ear and Prosthetic amputation.
This is a Global Grant project carried out in partnership with Rotary International, Rotary Clubs of Bombay Airport (Lead Club), Bombay Bandra, Borivli, Bombay East, Bombay Kandivli, Bombay West, Rotary Club of Capital City and friends of Rotary.
The mobile camp is conducted under the supervision of Dr. J.K.S. Weerasekera, Orthopedic surgeon (and engineers) formerly in charge of the National Hospital of Sri Lanka, Orthopedic Department (with a large workshop and a group of physiotherapists who undergo training in prostheses there).
“General public can contact CFINS when in-need of this mobile service organized in groups of minimum of 30 – 40 people,” Colombo Friend In Need Society officials said.
Pic: Vipula Amarasinghe