In a first of its kind in Tamil Nadu, 26 amputees get artificial limbs in Coimbatore Medical College Hospital
Coimbatore: A team of doctors under the guidance of Dr. Vetrivel Chezian from the department of institute of Orthopaedics and Traumatology in Coimbatore Medical College Hospital successfully provided prosthesis to amputees.
For the first time in the state, the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital have successfully provided prosthesis to as many as 26 differently abled persons under the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (TN-CMCHS). One of the patient Yashodha, a 41-years-old mill worker from Coimbatore district, who suffered amputation of left limb below the knee due to diabetic ulcer in 2019, says she is now able to walk freely and confidently having undergone the treatment and after given lightweight artificial limb at the artificial limb production centre at CMCH.
“I got my leg hurt and infected due to sugar and I was unable to walk for the past one year. Only my daughters took care of me. I was told to go to Chennai to get my legs operated but unable to bear the amount due to poverty I could not” she told.
However, with the Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme I got my artificial limb now and can able to walk freely, she added. She also noted that she thought of committing suicide due to her illness and unable to bear the brunt of amount to get treatment. However, TN-CMHIS came to her rescue, she adds. Like her, 25 other people in the district who went amputation of legs due to diabetes and accidents have received artificial limbs. Head of the department Dr. Vetrivel Chezian said it is the first time in Tamil Nadu that a government hospital had provided prosthesis to as many as 26 differently abled persons under Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme.
“The centre helps the poor who are unable to spend money for artificial limbs. We made sure those in the waiting list get their artificial limbs for free” the doctor told. It is the only hospital in the western region to have artificial limb centre that provides lightweight artificial limb. It is told that this centre at the CMCH uses lightweight telescopic rod and polypropylene to make artificial limbs.
The lightweight artificial limb reduces the pain while walking and comes with footwear and walking sticks along with the prosthetic. So far, the centre generated a sum of Rs. 8,53,000 under the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (TN-CMHIS) within nine months despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
For the first time in the state, the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital have successfully provided prosthesis to as many as 26 differently abled persons under the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (TN-CMCHS). One of the patient Yashodha, a 41-years-old mill worker from Coimbatore district, who suffered amputation of left limb below the knee due to diabetic ulcer in 2019, says she is now able to walk freely and confidently having undergone the treatment and after given lightweight artificial limb at the artificial limb production centre at CMCH.
“I got my leg hurt and infected due to sugar and I was unable to walk for the past one year. Only my daughters took care of me. I was told to go to Chennai to get my legs operated but unable to bear the amount due to poverty I could not” she told.
However, with the Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme I got my artificial limb now and can able to walk freely, she added. She also noted that she thought of committing suicide due to her illness and unable to bear the brunt of amount to get treatment. However, TN-CMHIS came to her rescue, she adds. Like her, 25 other people in the district who went amputation of legs due to diabetes and accidents have received artificial limbs. Head of the department Dr. Vetrivel Chezian said it is the first time in Tamil Nadu that a government hospital had provided prosthesis to as many as 26 differently abled persons under Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme.
“The centre helps the poor who are unable to spend money for artificial limbs. We made sure those in the waiting list get their artificial limbs for free” the doctor told. It is the only hospital in the western region to have artificial limb centre that provides lightweight artificial limb. It is told that this centre at the CMCH uses lightweight telescopic rod and polypropylene to make artificial limbs.
The lightweight artificial limb reduces the pain while walking and comes with footwear and walking sticks along with the prosthetic. So far, the centre generated a sum of Rs. 8,53,000 under the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (TN-CMHIS) within nine months despite the COVID-19 pandemic.