MedellÃn (Colombia), 3 sep (EFE).-with the support of an Indian NGO, Mahavir-Kmina Foundation has become the hope of many Colombians amputees by explosives, bites snakes or because of diabetes, who receive free prostheses they become walking.
This altruistic task started in 2007 in Medellin, told Efe the CEO of Mahavir-Kmina, Juan Rodrigo MejÃa, and grew out of the thousands of amputations practised in Colombia as a result of the outbreak of anti-personnel mines which placed groups armed.
Between 1990 and July 2011, according to figures from the presidential programme for the Integral action against the mine Antipersonales (Paicma), the placement of the so-called “quiebrapatas mines” have affected 9,444 Colombians, of which 5.678 are military and 3.436 civilians.
“Began with the idea of mine because it is a strong Colombia problem”, said MejÃa, who however added that treaties by this method are, by now, 4 per cent of the total of which attends the Foundation.
In fact, “the biggest problem” is related to diabetic patients and circulatory, difficulties affected by bites of snakes in the Colombian jungles and injured in traffic accidents
Organization of MejÃa, headquartered in Medellin (Northwestern Colombia), has the backing of Foundation BMVSS (Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Saimiti) of the India, which places approximately 30,000 prostheses a year, and helped them with training, technology and materials.
Precisely this Indian NGO invented the well-known “foot of Jaipur”, developed with pneumatic old bicycle.
“At this moment has advanced development thanks to the aerospace India Agency.” “Are quite similar to the human foot feet made in rubber,” explained MejÃa.
Is the Colombian Foundation specializing in lower-limb prosthesis, to its executive director: “is much more disabling leg than a hand because you need to walk.” “If a person loses a leg also loses hands because you need for crutches”.
For this reason, in its four years of existence Mahavir-Kmina has placed only between 12 and 15 hands of 1,023 prosthesis implanted in patients of all ages, ranging from a year and a half and 93 years.
According to Mejia, the countries who live or have suffered armed conflict are those who have more developed techniques for the construction of prostheses.
In the case of India, has its border with Pakistan sown antipersonnel mines and has not signed yet the Ottawa Convention to the total prohibition of these weapons and militarily as United States, Russia, China, and Israel.
On the other hand, Colombia it is a signatory to that Treaty, but it is the second most affected country in the world for these explosives prohibited behind Afghanistan, according to the international campaign for the prohibition of mines (ICBL).
Mahavir-Kmina assumes the cost of implantation of prosthesis thanks to contributions from the founders, donations from public, private companies and citizens, and when patients do not have resources to pay for the trip to Medellin or staying, they resort to the mayoralties.
“We started with very low levels and the Foundation has been growing.” Last year we got 260 prosthesis. We hope to put 360 in 2011 “, said MejÃa, prior to specify that in run of the year they have introduced 154 prosthesis.
According to the National Department of statistics (DANE) and there are about 2.6 million physical limited, of which 760,000 have difficulties in mobilizing to have been affected by violence and armed conflict, accidents of transit, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and other health problems.
Like Mahavir-Kmina, non-profit organizations offering medical and psychological support to victims of anti-personnel mines, as the Mi Sangre Foundation of Colombian singer Juanes and the own Ministry of defence, who is in charge of the military. EFE
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