By Justina Auta
The Nigerian Prosthetist, Orthotist and Orthopaedic Technology Society (NPOOTS) has donated prosthetic limbs to a victim of the 2014 Nyanya bomb blast and one other person to aid mobility and improve their lives.
The National President of NPOOTS, Dr Onwukamuche Chikwado, disclosed this in an interview on the sideline of the group’s third scientific conference on Friday in Abuja.
Chikwado said the initiative is to ameliorate the sufferings of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) using biomedical engineering tools to provide relief and improve their lives.
He added that the conference was an opportunity for members of the organisation to network, update their knowledge, and practice the skill of online interaction, in line with global trend and to perform their work efficiently.
He said “we are here to sharpen our skills, improve our knowledge, update ourselves with latest technologies, to appraise our skills and make sure we do the right thing so that we can deliver our best to those that need our services.
“Between the last time we had our conference and now, there has been a lot of technological innovation and advances, so, we intend to position ourselves in a strategic place to acquire these latest developments so that we can take it back to our different places.”
While emphasising the group’s focus to assist PWDs, he urged government and stakeholders to support them in improving their lives, especially for the less privileged ones in the society.
He said “we are available, and we are telling government that we are ready to contribute our quota as Nigerians to impact positively on the lives of PWDs.
“But our impact might not be fully felt without support from government so that we can reach out to them, discuss ways of impacting on these persons.”
A lecturer at the Prosthetics and Orthotics Department, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Dr Tochukwu Ugorji noted new technological innovative methods that replace traditional ways of treating and rehabilitating PWDs.
The lecturer, who spoke on “Modern Techniques in Prosthetic and Orthotic Practice,” said “we have new ways of designing and fabricating prosthetic and orthotic devices that have almost replaced the traditional ways of doing it.
“So, as prosthetic and orthotic practice evolve in Nigeria and globally, new technologies and ways of doing it better keep emerging on a daily basis.
“This conference will offer participants the opportunity to cross breed ideas because we have technical sessions where people will present research works they have done in recent times in this field.”
The National Secretary, NPOOTS, Mr Aharanwa Francis-Obinna said: “we select people who are eager to walk but lack the financial will to get themselves rehabilitated and that is why we stepped in at zero cost.”
A beneficiary from Katsina State, Sanusi Usman, said his legs were amputated due to injuries sustained during the bomb blast at the Nyanya bridge in Abuja in 2014.
He said “I am a victim of the Nyanya bomb blast of 2014. I am so happy and I appreciate the organisation for giving me the prosthetic limb as it will enable me to move around and source for my livelihood.”
Another beneficiary, Christopher Iliya, also thanked the association, adding that the prosthetic limbs would ease his movement and make him less dependent on others.
He said “I lost my limbs after an accident in 2009; my Church gave me prosthetic limbs but I outgrew it. I really appreciate the opportunity of having another one, which will ease my movement.”
