Artificial leg program launched in Pampanga (Sun.Star, Saturday, October 13, 2007)

Artificial leg program launched in Pampanga
By Ian Ocampo Flora

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Some 121 amputees and their families flocked at the Social Action Center of Pampanga (Sacop) during the recent launching of the Walking Free Pampanga project sponsored by the Kapampangan Development Foundation (KDF) in collaboration with the Physicians for Peace.

The KDF, an organization of Kapampangans based outside the province, teamed up with the Physicians for Peace in a bid to provide free artificial legs to amputees all across the province.

The KDF is responsible in identifying possible beneficiaries through physical and medical screening.

The number of applicants is expected to increase as other towns are sending in their list of potential beneficiaries.

KDF President Benigno Ricafort said that the project aims to help indigent amputees to walk again and become productive.

"This project would identify the beneficiaries based on qualification, we are prioritizing those who have been victims of accidents. The KDF is also prioritizing beneficiaries who could be productive if given artificial legs, Ricafort said.

"We are not just helping the amputee but also the family members who could devout their time and energy to other endeavors," Ricafort said.

The KDF is responsible for providing the ground works for the projects while the Physicians for Peace is tasked to do the medical aspects of the program.

The Physicians for Peace is an organization based in the US. Since its inception, the organization has provided 1, 400 legs to indigent families all over the country.

According to Dr. Penny Bundoc of the Physicians for Peace, the amputees who would not pass the screening would still benefit from the free consultation.

"We cannot give everybody artificial legs. There are certain medical and health considerations that were are looking at but the fact that they were given useful information regarding their condition is already a big help for them," Bundoc said.

"We have collaborated with Operation Blessing so that those who would not be given artificial legs may be given wheel chairs," Bundoc said.

One of the beneficiaries - Augusto De Mesa - said the artificial given to him are blessings considering his condition.

"The legs would help me a lot and hopefully I could be productive again," De Mesa said.

His two legs were amputated last year after complications with his diabetes. He goes to work as Municipal Council Secretary on his wheelchair and always accompanied by his daughter.

Ricafort said the two organizations would be continuously screening applicants for free artificial legs every first Saturday of the month.

The initial beneficiaries would receive their artificial legs before the month of December. The KDF and the Physicians for Peace is also calling on other organizations and concern Kapampangans to take part in their activity.