ROTARY JAIPUR LIMB PROJECT

SHROPSHIRE DISABILITY NETWORK – 13TH DECEMBER 2012

Thank you very much for inviting me to talk to you today. I am Margaret Williams a member of Wellington Inner Wheel Club.

All too often these days we see images of Service personnel returning from Afghanistan with dreadful injuries. Who will ever forget the Paralympics this summer and the amazing achievements of competitors many with severe disabilities?

Sadly there are many parts of the world where disabled men, women and children can only dream of such achievements.

I have been privileged to be involved to a small degree through Rotary and Inner Wheel with a Society in India that aims to help the poorest disabled members of their country. Despite India having many millionaires there are still millions of disadvantaged people.

First of all I would like you to watch this short presentation by Mr D R Metha of the BMVSS, Jaipur. BMVSS stands for Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (you can see why it is shortened). It is a non-governmental, voluntary, non- religious, non-sectarian, non-political Society for helping the handicapped, especially those without any resources. It was set up in March 1975 by the gentleman you will see in the presentation as a long-term human welfare project. The aim is to enable the physically handicapped to regain their self-respect by becoming normal and useful members of their community.

(Show DVD)

In 1985 a local Wellington Rotarian, the late Gerry Powell, was instrumental in helping to set up the Rotary Jaipur Limb Project (RJLP). This became a registered UK Charity in 1995 In the 27 years of its existence it is estimated that well over half a million amputees, polio victims and many others have been helped in various ways. Rotary and Inner Wheel Clubs raise funds in support of the Charity and many of the projects have connections with BMVSS.

In January 2010 I was fortunate to be able to join a group of the RJLP Trustees in a visit to India that included visits to several Limb Centres as mentioned by Mr Mehta.

My visit began in Bangalore in South India and one highlight was time spent at the 13th annual Limb Camp organised and funded by a local Rotary Club with the support of RJLP. BMVSS technicians were there to make whatever was needed.

During the week just under 2000 patients benefited to the tune of: -

433 limbs

1096 callipers

400 crutches

20 wheelchairs

I was able to watch the creation of a prosthetic leg – cost around £30 – from start to finish. To actually watch someone stand for the first time in their lives because of a prosthetic limb that has taken a matter of a few hours to produce is a very humbling experience.

At the Limb Camp free food and accommodation (where necessary) is provided for the beneficiaries and their attendants. In some cases the whole family arrive with the patient. A very basic kitchen provided 400-500 breakfasts, 1500 lunches and 1500 dinners each day using the best quality ingredients. The ladies in our group helped serve the lunch one day – quite an experience.

It was a great privilege to meet Mr D R Metha at the BMVSS HQ in Jaipur and to be shown around the Hospital by him. We saw the full range of aids provided as mentioned in the presentation.

Towards the end of my visit to India we visited a permanent limb centre in Dhanbad in the north east of the country. It is a coal mining area as was Wellington many years ago. The Centre there is named after Gerry Powell.

Today the Jaipur Foot technology can be found in many countries in addition to India due to the dedication of Mr D R Metha, Rotary and Inner Wheel Clubs, RJLP and Rotary Foundation. There are permanent centres in many countries – Afghanistan, Philippines, Kenya, Uganda, Honduras, Panama and more recently Haiti The Caribbean Rotary District with help from the BVMSS and RJLP (amongst others) have created a Limb Centre in a small town in the centre of Haiti, away from the earthquake area. It is close to a small hospital that is mainly funded by the US and run by a Haitian Doctor.

I will finish by telling you about the very first person that I saw when I entered the limb camp in Bangalore. He was a boy of about 8. His name was Atosh and the smile on his face at being able to stand for the first time in his life will remain with me forever. He did not speak any English because he had never been able to go to school. His family lived in a remote rural area hundreds of miles from the limb camp. With the help of his new callipers and new trainers he will be able to go to school and he has a good chance of being able to lead an independent life.

Thank you for listening – I hope that you have found it interesting.

Web sites

BMVSS –

RJLP –