Afghanistan: the ICRC orthopaedic project in 2006

Did you know?

• 76 % of the amputees registered are mine victims
• 70% are civilians
• 82% are adult males
• 8% are boys (< 14 yrs)
• 7% are women
• 3% are girls (< 14 yrs)

The orthopaedic project started in 1988 in Kabul. Today it is spread over six centres, in Kabul, Mazar-e-Sharif, Herat, Jalalabad, Gulbahar and Faizabad.

Each of the centres has five main activities:

production of prostheses (artificial limbs, both legs and arms);

production of orthoses (appliances such as splints, braces, callipers, corsets...);

physical rehabilitation;

social re-integration of the disabled (employment, micro-credit, education, vocational training, apprenticeship);

training of local staff.

All components of the limbs and appliances are made in the Kabul workshop and sent to the other centres. Other non-ICRC projects working in the same field are supplied with these components as well. The material used is plastic polypropylene; all the components are made with recycled plastic. The six centres can produce up to 600 limbs, 700 appliances, 1,200 pairs of crutches and 100 wheelchairs each month.

Originally intended only for people disabled by war wounds, the assistance was extended to all motor-disabled patients in 1995. At present, treatment is provided to patients affected by loss of limbs, polio, spinal injuries, congenital deformities, cerebral palsy and any other deformity.

Six expatriates train and assist over 500 local workers, of whom 60 are women. All the local workers are disabled.

ACTIVITIES SINCE 1988

Total patients registered: 68,871, of whom 30,524 are amputees.
Prostheses made: 55,684
Orthoses made: 60,004
Crutches made (pairs): 104,038
Wheelchairs made: 10,352
Physiotherapy sessions given: 766,684

Social reintegration programmes since 1988

Disabled sent to state schools: 1,489
Disabled given micro–credits: 4,524
Disabled entered for vocational training: 1,164
Disabled employed through a job centre: 978

Programme for paraplegics

In 1996, the ICRC began a programme for paraplegics, providing medical, social, economic, family support and psychological care. The paraplegics are treated at home, in the spinal units of local hospitals and in the orthopaedic centres. Home care teams regularly visit the patients, get their families closely involved and ensure coordination among all concerned. The programme is operational in all cities where the orthopaedic centres are located.