A Sense of Hope

Several years ago, Rahmattulah was serving as a soldier in the Afghan National Army. One day, he was patrolling along the side of a narrow road, when he heard a sudden explosion and felt severe pain in his right foot. He fell and saw his foot in pieces–the result of a landmine. He was taken to a hospital in Kabul where a surgeon amputated his right foot.

The doctors encouraged him to be strong and to never lose hope. They showed him other patients who had lost limbs but were doing a wide variety of activities. They said that he would be able to walk and work if he got a prosthetic leg. He was discharged from the hospital and returned to his hometown.

A few years later, one of his friends told him about a centre for disabled people in his hometown. He visited the IAM Orthopaedic Workshop and Physiotherapy Center (OWPC) and asked for a new prosthetic leg because his first one needed replacing. He also received physiotherapy services from OWPC. The project manager showed him how to apply for disability benefits and encouraged him to join a vocational course so that he could work. After a year’s training, he was able to start his own flower business, and he now supports his family. He wants to thank the OWPC staff for their encouragement and assistance. He is also thankful for them giving him a new sense of hope.

If you are curious about our Orthopaedic Workshop and Physiotherapy Centre, click here to find out more.