A Light of Hope

East Timor is new nation, which after the independence struggle towards fulfilling the nation building capacity and faces many political, economical and security challenges.

Earlier 2006, instability and civil unrest took place. This fragile situation made worse by sectarianism, the crisis deepens. Many lives were lost, houses burnt while tens of thousands of people seek shelter in the refugee camps. UN stated around 70,000 people is displaced and live in refuge camps since May 2006 (at the moment the Internal Displaced People No is 30-40.000). Shelter, food, hygiene and sanitation become major problem faced by the refugees and are great burden for the disabled people and their families to live in an environment like this.

ASSERT’S (one of Cambodia Trust’s partnership projects) Physical Rehabilitation Centre (TLSPR) is a centre that provides help and real support for disabled people in this country where hopes are redeemed and dreamed become true. TLSPR is working closely with other partners like The Leprosy Mission International (TLMI), CARE international and PLAN, in surveying all the camps to collect data about disabled people and to provide direct support for those who are in much needed like wheelchairs, crutches, as well as some long term support for their independent and mobility through the provision of artificial legs and limbs.

June 7th 2006, a visit was done to one of the camps in Dili (Obrigado Barracks), where we assisted 12 clients; among them I met one disabled girl called Suzana De Jesus, a 12 years old girl. Over the last 3 years she became depended on using the auxiliary crutch for her mobility. She suffered from oesteo sarcoma and had endured 3 operations to fix her problem. Unfortunately these operations had left her with Leg Length Discrepancy (LLD) of 20cm/8 inches of her right leg.

The LLD made her not able to touch the ground and put weight on her right leg. The LLD made her shy and unable to freely participate in social life and lost her confidence. She is studying at Junior High School which is 1 ½ KM away. With the help of her crutch she walked to school every day. However, the long usage of the crutch caused pressure soars on her hands. Following the extensive consultation she was prescribed a combination of artificial limb (Ortho-Prosthesis) to compensate the shortening of her leg and maximize the level of function. On the fitting day she came with her family who witnessed her happiness when the artificial limb was fitted; they too were happy. Physiotherapy staff helped her with exercises to increase her strength and improve her walking ability. She attended this training 3 times a week. I delivered her temporary artificial leg and a week later she came back for finalizing her leg. She was concern about using the artificial leg with her shorts so ASSERT helped getting a new pair of jeans so that it will cover her artificial leg once it was fitted.

The ortho-prosthesis is now part of her life and has made so much different because she is now walking independently; confidence and so proud to stand tall like other normal people. She is again actively participating in social activities and one happy, vibrant young girl with more positive attitudes toward life. Suzana’s story is one of successful interventions that ASSERT could assist. Still there are hundreds of disable people who are disadvantaged by deeply entrenched discrimination, poverty, poor infrastructure and lack of rehabilitation services.

Thanks
Faiz-ur-Rehman

Prosthatist & Orthotist
ASSERT Becora Dili Timor Leste