ICRC Physical Rehabilitation Centre in Burma Bordering Indian State

Guwahati: International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in association with the District Disability Rehabilitation Centre (DDRC), an organisation run by the Indian Red Cross society of Dimapur in Northeast India, has re-launched a physical rehabilitation centre in the capital of Nagaland province. The initiative was a part of the celebration of International Day of Disabled Persons, stated in a release from Alexis Heeb, ICRC New Delhi.

“Injuries inflicted by anti-personnel mines or other explosive weapons can lead to amputation, severe disability and psychological trauma. These casualties require specialist surgery and post-operative care in the first instance and rehabilitation and psychological support in the longer term,” said Achilles Otou-Essono, an ICRC physical rehabilitation programme manager.

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The International committee of the Red Cross assists the District Disability Rehabilitation Centre.

“The best way to overcome these medical challenges is to have highly-skilled, professional personnel and to use suitable materials. This is clearly what we aim to achieve in Dimapur.”

The work carried out in cooperation with the District Disability Rehabilitation Centre will result in improved care for patients. The centre is stocked with the latest machines and equipment for people who have lost their limbs in accidents or who have been injured by anti-personnel mines or other types of explosive weapons. Patients will be provided with prostheses, orthoses, crutches and wheelchairs and will also receive physiotherapy.

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The project prioritised the involvement of the local authorities, Dimapur civil hospital authorities, the Disabled People Organisations (DPOs), rehabilitation agencies active in the region e.i. CBR organisations and civil society representatives, since ICRC and DDRC consider them as the most relevant actors in the current context to guarantee the existence and access to services for people with disabilities in their communities.

“This centre is aimed at helping all those in India’s north-east in need of medical devices, mobility aids and physiotherapy,” said Francois Stamm, head of the ICRC delegation in India.

“Hopefully it will attract patients from Nagaland and nearby states like Manipur, Arunachal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.”

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The permanence of rehabilitation services for physically disabled persons is enhanced through a systematic process of community integration so as to offer continuity of access to health for the physical disabled Dimapur.

The ICRC has been running a physical rehabilitation programme for disabled people in India since 2004. Currently, the organization supports two facilities in government-run hospitals in Srinagar and Jammu.

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The ICRC Physical rehabilitation programme aim at contributing to the socio economic integration of physically disabled persons into society, regardless of their background, especially during and after violence or period of conflict.

Nava Thakuria is a Guwahati (Northeast India) based journalist, who contributes to NewsBlaze and various media outlets throughout the world.