Overcoming Social Exclusion
Welcome to part IV of our mini-series. The physical limitations that often go hand in hand with an amputation are only one aspect of living with a disability. Stigmatization and social exclusion are other aspects that need to be overcome. CoRSU is working with a wholistic approach to assist people with disabilities to fully participate in all the activities of their communities and live a life in dignity. Providing amputees with a prosthetic device is often only the first step in a long rehabilitation process.
Jimmy, Osteomyelitis Survivor
In 2016, Jimmy started to feel a pain in his left foot. The pain kept growing and moving upwards towards his hip. His parents started to treat his leg using locally available medicine and herbal shrubs. The pain did not stop, rather, his leg got even more swollen. His parents took him to a nearby clinic several times to treat the leg, but all in vain. When his parents could no longer afford the clinical bills, they returned to using local herbs to manage the pain.
One of our partner organization found Jimmy and referred him to CoRSU for assessment. He was diagnosed with osteomyelitis which necessitated an amputation. At first, his mother was traumatized with the thought that her son would lose a leg. Her sanity was returned based on the promise that Jimmy would be able to get an artificial limb.
A year and a half after his amputation Jimmy returned to CoRSU to receive his artificial limb. He hopes to be a doctor one day; a doctor specialized in serving person with disability. His mother is grateful to CoRSU for fitting him with an artificial limb. “My son was laughed at by people because he had only one leg, but now he has both legs and can finally play with the friends with more ease.”
Further Reading
CoRSU Special - Part II
Today you meet a little boy named Miracle. One of the many patients who benefited from the great services that the CoRSU team offers. Having access to a police like CoRSU is often the deciding factor between a life in dignity, fully integrated into society and a life on the margins of the community, excluded and dependent on others. read more
CoRSU Special - Part III
Today I want you to meet Kaweesa Moses, a prosthetist and orthotist. He chose this professional as a result of wanting to help his brother to walk again. While unfortunately Moses was never able to fulfill his promise to his brother, he helped thousands of others. read more
CoRSU Special - Part V
Angela is a trained nurse from London who first visited Uganda in 2010. Struck by the need for proper and accessible health care she encountered, Angela visited CoRSU and was amazed by the comprehensiveness of the services offered, the quality of the hospital and the humane touch from the staff towards the children. Soon she volunteered with them. read more