Nitor to rehabilitate Savar tragedy victims

The authorities of the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (Nitor) are preparing for rehabilitation of the victims of Rana Plaza collapse in Savar.
Prof Khondokar Abdul Awal Rizvi, director of Nitor, said, “We are sending patients with spinal cord injuries and limb amputation to the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP) at Savar for rehabilitation.”
A total of 116 patients were admitted to Nitor after the nine-storey Rana Plaza collapsed on April 24.  At present, 40 patients are receiving treatment at the orthopedic hospital.
No prostheses have yet been used for the amputees of Savar tragedy.
Rizvi said it would take time for the stumps to be ready for prostheses.
“Patients with fractured bones, who are being released from the hospital after improvement in their conditions, are advised to get a check-up a month later,” he added.
Shapla, a victim whose story was published in The Daily Star on April 28, was found in an ecstatic state as she prepared to go home on Friday.
“I am going home to my son in Dinajpur. The Nitor authorities have managed an artificial arm for me from the CRP. I will come back to Nitor a month later for the operation,” said Shapla, whose left hand was amputated from below the elbow.
The Nitor director said many foreign organisations have shown interest in providing artificial limbs to the victims.
Though artificial legs are produced locally by organisations like Brac, CRP and Nitor, funds would be required to purchase the expensive artificial hands from abroad, he added.
Dr Rizvi said, “Though Nitor had adequate medical supply for the treatment of Savar victims, it received some antibiotics provided by the Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association.”