In response to Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, a branch of Ability Prosthetics & Orthotics in Frederick, Md., has teamed up with Physicians for Peace and collected about $750,000 in prosthetic limbs to donate to residents there.
It is estimated between 200 and 300 people will benefit from the prostheses but the need will most likely grow.
“We were just told the other day that over 50 to 70 limbs were being amputated per day, primarily due to infection, so over the next 3 to 6 months there’s going to be a huge need,” Jeffrey Quelet, CPO, said in a news report. “It makes us feel good that instead of these limbs sitting on people’s attics or collecting dust that they can go to a very worthy cause, and most amputees enjoy the opportunity to actually give back.”
Ability P&O’s offices are accepting prosthetic limb donations for the Philippines through the end of this year, while Physicians for Peace is seeking monetary donations. For information on how to donate to Ability P&O, visit www.abilitypo.com/. For information on how to donate to Physicians for Peace, visit www.physiciansforpeace.org/give.
