Through the joint “Healing Haiti’s Children” program, established by the Knights of Columbus and Project Medishare last year, every child who lost a limb in the Haitian earthquake is now eligible for a 2-year course of free prosthetics and physical therapy. The program also works with Ossur and the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF)
On Saturday, March 5, 2011 in Port-au-Prince, the organizations unveiled the state-of-the-art Ossur International Prosthetics and Orthotics Laboratory during a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Project Medishare Hospital Bernard Mevs.
The lab was donated by Ossur and houses equipment purchased through the Knights of Columbus funding of the “Healing Haiti’s Children” program. CAF has also become involved in the rehabilitation element of the program, working with the children to make sure that their rehabilitation brings them the opportunity of the highest level of physical performance possible.
During the grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony, Ossur’s founder, Ossur Kristinsson, presented more than 600 modular prosthetic systems to Project Medishare and the new lab.
“We are pleased to be able to help to heal those children injured in the devastating earthquake and to give them renewed hope in the possibility of living life with regained mobility,” Carl Anderson, Knights of Columbus supreme knight, stated in a press release. “Providing the limbs, therapy and support to these children is truly a life changing gift and one that we are very pleased to be able to give in partnership with Medishare and with the help of CAF and Ossur.”
The new lab will house materials, equipment and serve as a classroom for training the Haitians who will be hired as prosthetic techs. Two Haitians have already been hired and are being trained to fabricate, adjust and fit sockets and liners, as well as prosthetic knees and feet. As a result of this program, more hires are anticipated in the near future.
