Recipients of artificial limbs remember the kindness, compassion of the Princess

HRH PRINCESS GALYANI VADHANA / PROSTHESIS FOUNDATION, EXPRESSIONS OF GRIEF

NEW LEGS GIVE DISABLED HOPE

Recipients of artificial limbs remember the kindness, compassion of the Princess

Story by ANUCHA CHAROENPO

People who received artificial legs from a project under the Prosthesis Foundation say HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana's kindness gave them a new life. The Prosthesis Foundation of HRH the Princess Mother has distributed more than 20,000 free artificial legs to the disabled since its inception in 1992.

Therdchai Jivacate, director of the foundation, said the Princess, who continued the work of the Princess Mother, was dedicated to helping the disabled poor.

As the foundation president, she had tirelessly travelled to provinces across the country to oversee the foundation's work and visited people in remote areas.

''Her enthusiasm for the artificial leg service was impressive. When visiting our mobile production unit she always showed how much she cared about the disabled, compassionately asking about their lives,'' said Dr Therdchai.

''Of course, she wanted them to have a happy life and to work like able-bodied people after receiving the artificial legs.''

The 67-year-old physician recalled that the late Princess had often instructed him and other staff to develop new techniques and find equipment that would make their artificial legs cheaper than imported ones _ and finally they did.

The locally-produced equipment not only makes the artificial limbs cheaper, but it speeds up the work. Instead of one or two weeks, it now took only one day. ''The equipment is really useful. Those in need do not have to wait so long,'' he said.

Each year the mobile unit makes five to seven trips to the provinces, each lasting five days to a week. Since 1992 it has made 96 trips, producing artificial legs for people in need.

The foundation has seven branch offices in Ban Kruat, Khu Muang and Lahan Sai districts in Buri Ram, Sangkhla Buri in Kanchanaburi, Nam Yuen in Ubon Ratchathani, Aranyaprathet in Sa Kaeo and Pua in Nan. A new office is to be opened in Chiang Kran district in Nan this year.

Last year the Princess allowed Dr Therdchai and other staff of the foundation to train Indonesian volunteers in the production of artificial legs and they set up a production unit at Banda Aceh on Sumatra, where there are thousands of victims of landmines from a long civil war. The area was also hit by the tsunami in 2004.

The foundation has been asked to help disabled people in Afghanistan and the central African countries of Rwanda and Burundi, but has yet to make a decision.

Dr Therdchai expressed profound gratitude to the Princess for accepting the post of foundation president. If not, the foundation would have had a difficult time getting funds and donations.

''Thanks to her, our foundation has become recognised and works well helping those in need,'' he said.

The late Princess' contribution to this work has helped thousands of disabled people to live happy lives. They can now work and earn a living, and support their families just like able-bodied people, he said.

Montree Kitimoon, 42, who lost his right leg to diabetes four years ago, said: ''My life has changed a lot since I received an artificial leg from the foundation. I even got a job here and earn about 5,000 baht a month, so I can feed my two young children.''

Mr Montree, from Chiang Mai, used to be a construction worker, but has now learned the skills to make artificial legs. He said he sought help from the foundation after a state hospital turned down all his attempts to get an artificial leg because of lack of money.

Anant Jaipling, 50, who received two artificial legs from the foundation's Pua office in Nan, now earns a living driving a school bus in the district. He has also opened a grocery shop in his village and helps his wife behind the counter.

He stepped on a landmine 23 years ago when he was a defence volunteer in Bo Kluea district in Nan.

He said he was grateful for what the Princess had done to help the disabled.

''I will always remember her goodness, her kindness and compassion,'' said Mr Anant as he performed a wai over his head.