I recently had the pleasure of working with ICRC at a Government of Southern Sudan orthopedic and prosthesis center, the Physical Rehabilitation Reference Center (PRRC). The PRRC is the first orthopedic and prosthesis physical therapy center in Southern Sudan, and has been open since 2007. The center serves war-wounded victims of gunshots and land mines, supplying amputees with prosthetic legs and physiotherapy free of charge. The more complicated prosthetic elements (feet, ankle and knee...
more »I recently had the pleasure of working with ICRC at a Government of Southern Sudan orthopedic and prosthesis center, the Physical Rehabilitation Reference Center (PRRC). The PRRC is the first orthopedic and prosthesis physical therapy center in Southern Sudan, and has been open since 2007. The center serves war-wounded victims of gunshots and land mines, supplying amputees with prosthetic legs and physiotherapy free of charge. The more complicated prosthetic elements (feet, ankle and knee joints) are fabricated in Switzerland, and the full devices are created in Juba to fit patients individually.
Most of the amputees are gunshot and landmine victims from the long civil war between North and South Sudan. Because of lack of health care during the war, many soldiers in the southern rebel army (the SPLA) were operated on under trees, loosing their legs in order to save their lives.
The type 72 small, anti-personnel landmine called a "toe popper", is very common in Southern Sudan, usually made of plastic and virtually undetectable. Often children think they are toys. Landmines remain a serious problem across the country, and many men, women and children become new victims every day.
The PRRC in Juba gives them the chance to have a normal life again. The prosthesis devices are built and fitted at the center, and most patients stay for 3-6 weeks during the fitting process before returning home. Anyone is welcome as an inpatient or outpatient, depending on their needs.
Recent media pieces have been quite negative about Sudan, predicting a return to war when the reality on the ground is that people are keen to move on and start their lives over in a peaceful country. Everyone is nervous, but no one wants to return to war or suffer as they have for the last 25 years. People are rebuilding their homes and returning to work, and at the Physical Rehabilitation Reference Center they are learning to walk again.
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