Sri Lanka School of Prosthetics & Orthotics (SLSPO) hosts Sri Lanka’s first regional seminar on preventing disabilities caused by diabetes, leprosy
by Helen Cochrane CPO(c), Cambodia Trust Clinical Mentor
From February 14th to 18th 2010, SLSPO hosted a regional seminar in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The seminar, on Prosthetic and Orthotic Services including Rehabilitation related to Diabetes and other Neuropathic Disabilities, is part of a range of SLSPO activities to support the Ministry of Healthcare and Nutrition to build prosthetics and orthotics services in Sri Lanka. It was co-ordinated by the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO) and funded by the Nippon Foundation of Japan and ISPO.
The seminar focused on the needs of people affected by diabetes and leprosy. The world is facing an epidemic of diabetes, with up to 70% of all leg amputations resulting of this disease. People with diabetes are prone to many foot problems, often because of loss of sensation and poor blood circulation. Loss of sensation causes people not to feel pain and discomfort, so they will not detect an injury.
Leprosy is completely curable and is considered to be one of the least infectious diseases. “However, the disease entails traditional stigma and those affected can be victims of discrimination and often displacement. This is mainly due to the disabilities and deformities that occur as a consequence of nerve damage. The extent of disabilities and deformities could be lessen or prevented completely with improved care,” explained Mary Scott, SLSPO Director.
Prosthetics (artificial limbs) and orthotics (braces) are essential for the mobility of many people with disabilities, including those who have diabetes or have had leprosy.
The Seminar Faculty comprised experts from Argentina, the Netherlands, Sri Lanka, Sweden and USA. Over 100 participants attended from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam include doctors, physiotherapists, nurses and prosthetist/orthotists.
“The seminar provided opportunities for building professional networks, learning from each other and sharing knowledge and experience to improve services for patients in the future,” concluded Mary Scott.
