LASHKARGAH (Pajhwok): An artificial limb rehabilitation centre in southern Helmand province, which provided services to nearly 20,000 people last year, is helping disabled individuals return to normal life through prosthetic limbs, physiotherapy and counselling services.
The centre operates in Lashkargah, the provincial capital, with support from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Every day, it receives people who have lost limbs in past wars and landmine explosions.
Amanullah Abid, a resident of Nawzad district, lost one of his legs during the conflict 17 years ago.
“I lost my leg during the past war. The Red Cross made a prosthetic leg for me and I come here from time to time for repairs. Life is difficult, but I no longer feel as though I have lost a leg,” he said.
Mohammad Sabir, a resident of Haszoi village in the same district, said he lost both legs in a landmine explosion when he was eight years old.
“After the explosion, life became extremely difficult. Although prosthetic legs were made for me here and I can walk, I still cannot work like a healthy person,” he noted.
He called for employment opportunities suitable for persons with disabilities, particularly jobs that can be performed while seated.
Ainuddin, an elderly resident of Pirzoi village in Nawzad district, recalled stepping on a landmine while returning to his village after the end of the war five years ago.
“We were happy the war had ended and were returning home when a hidden mine exploded. My son’s leg recovered, but both my legs were amputated,” he said.
He urged the international community to help clear landmines from Afghanistan, particularly in southern provinces.
“People are still losing their lives or becoming disabled because of these mines,” he added.
Mine survivors in Helmand say the rehabilitation centre has restored their hope and enabled them to live more independently.
Ikramullah, a resident of Bolan area in Lashkargah, said both his legs were amputated in a mine blast.
“When I came to this centre, I regained hope in life. I can now walk like other people and no longer feel incomplete. The doctors here always encourage me and boost my morale,” he said.
Officials at the centre said they not only manufacture artificial limbs but also provide treatment for cerebral palsy, clubfoot, spinal problems and other physical disabilities, along with counselling services.
Wahid Naimi, director of the artificial limb rehabilitation centre, said the facility also treats people affected by polio and similar diseases.
“Last year, we treated 19,511 people here. Prosthetic limbs were provided and patients also received treatment for spinal tuberculosis, spinal injuries, nervous disorders, joint deformities and other conditions,” he said.
According to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), an estimated 1.5 million Afghans live with significant disabilities, many of them resulting from decades of conflict.
Helmand, one of Afghanistan’s most war-affected provinces, still has areas contaminated by landmines. Residents continue to call for mine-clearance operations, while similar threats persist in parts of other provinces as well.
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