The ICRC and the Red Cross Society of the
Democratic Republic of the Congo officially inaugurated the Kalembe-Lembe
limb-fitting workshop in Kinshasa on 27June following the signing, on 28
March, of a cooperation agreement between the two organizations.
In addition to supplying technical assistance
and rehabilitating the existing buildings, the ICRC sent François Blaise,
an experienced prosthetic technician, to lend a hand. Mr Blaise, who will
work together with a team of technicians and craftsmen from the National
Society, has already carried out ICRC assignments in Angola, Kenya, southern
Sudan and Cambodia. The new workshop will produce artificial limbs and
orthopaedic appliances made of polypropylene, a material which has the
advantage of being inexpensive and light.
Accidents and anti-personnel mines account for most amputations performed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Since the workshop opened on 26 May, consultations have been given to 35 soldiers and dozens of civilians. "The limb I'm wearing now is made of wood and weighs nearly three kilos, which makes it very difficult for me to move about", said Rémy Ngamutala, who was the victim of an accident in Kinshasa in 1989 and is among those who will soon be fitted with new limbs at the Red Cross workshop.
According to François Blaise, there is plenty to be done: "As soon as the workshop opened, the news spread like wildfire. We already have a list of over 200 people who are to be given consultations and artificial limbs by the end of the year."