More than 80 Lebanese victims of mines and cluster bombs have regained a degree of mobility thanks to the efforts of the Indian Battalion serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
For the past week, the Indian Battalion has been holding a "Jaipur Foot" clinic at its base in Ebel Es Saqi, near Marjayoun in south-eastern Lebanon. The clinic involved specialists, flown in from India, providing free medical examinations and "Jaipur Foot" limb fittings to Lebanese nationals who had been injured in mine or cluster bomb explosions.
The "Jaipur Foot" is an artificial limb developed and manufactured in Jaipur in India. Its cost is much lower than many other prosthetic limbs available on the market, yet it is also light in weight in and comfortable for the user.
Peacekeepers from the Indian Battalion spent more than two months identifying suitable candidates for the artificial limbs.
The clinic is the third of its kind. In 2006, 22 people were treated at the inaugural "Jaipur Foot" clinic, and another 123 Lebanese patients were fitted with the artificial limbs at another "Jaipur Foot" clinic in April this year.
"In light of the positive response to the previous clinics, the Indian Battalion decided to hold another one. The Member of Parliament for Saida, Mr. Ali Oseiran, was of great help in securing funding for the project. It was through his efforts that Lebanese financial institution FransaBank agreed to provide the $10,000 in sponsorship for the latest clinic," said Major Sumit Sharma of the Indian Battalion. He added that the Indian Battalion hoped to hold more "Jaipur Foot" clinics in the future.
A closing ceremony was held for the clinic on Friday. The UNIFIL Force Commander, Major-General Claudio Graziano, attended the closing ceremony at which he praised the initiative and efforts of the Indian Battalion.
|
