Suva: The ‘Jaipur Foot’ team that arrived in the country on Monday has to date, successfully fitted 30 artificial limbs at the Rehabilitation Hospital in Tamavua.
Head of delegation and team manager, Mr Om Prakash Sharma said there were eight of them working on the artificial limbs and each day a total of 14 patients were screened and measured for placements.
“The Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS) commonly known as ‘Jaipur Foot’ started in 1975 and has fitted 1.20 million limbs both in India and around the world,” said Mr Sharma.
“I have seen a lot of diabetic patients over the last two days who are going through the limb placements in Fiji.
“Most of them are having the fitting for the first time and their response has been encouraging.”
Fifty-one-year-old Moritekei Wavu, who came all the way from Natumua, Tavuki Kadavu said he had a new lease of life now after the limb fitting.
Mr Wavu is a diabetic patient who was one of the patients fitted with a limb today.
“I thank God for this opportunity and I thank the team for the assistance,” Mr Wavu said.
“I heard on the radio that a team was coming from India and I came to Suva to register and got selected for the fitting.”
Mr Wavu said he was staying in the village all this years and now with the new limb he could move around more easily.
The Jaipur team will be attending the patients seven days a week and also work on public holidays.