The Hindu : National : A project inspired by President Kalam

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Thursday, Jul 05, 2007
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A project inspired by President Kalam

G. Narasimha Rao

150 affected persons attend camp conducted by NSTL

—Photo: C.V.Subrahmanyam

For the right fit: Technicians taking measurements of the leg of a polio-affected girl at a camp organised by the NSTL in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday.

VISAKHAPATNAM: Thanks to the interest shown by President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam when he was Director of DRDL (now called DRDO) in Hyderabad, more than 15,000 polio-afflicted persons are now enjoying the advantage of FRO callipers that are light and walking with more convenience.

It was during a visit by Dr. Kalam to the Nizams Institute of Medical Sciences in Hyderabad during 1993 that the first step was made towards manufacturing the light weight callipers made of FRO material was made. The project of fitting the light weight callipers commenced about two years ago.

When Dr. Kalam asked the then Director of NIMS and orthopaedic surgeon B.N. Prasad what help his organisation could extend to the hospital and patients, the latter wanted a callipers of light weight to be prepared.

Dr. Kalam spent six months going through the details of the callipers available and held a brain storming session with doctors of NIMS and Defence scientists to plan a more user-friendly callipers. Any one can place orders with the Alamco in Kanpur which produces the FRO callipers. The cost of a calliper is around Rs.700 if it is required to cover the portion above the knee or Rs.300 if only the portion of the leg below the knee has to be covered. The conventional callipers made of plastic material costs between Rs.1,800 and Rs.2,000. The Naval Science and Technological Laboratories (NTSL) Seva Samiti organised a camp here on Wednesday to provide polio-affected persons with the FRO callipers free of cost and nearly 150 patients turned up. However, the FRO callipers will suit the polio-affected only

“The advantages of FRO callipers is that it is light weight, can be fitted quickly to a patient, even in a remote village, any type of shoe can be worn by the patient after this calliper is fitted”, explained NIMS orthopaedic surgeon L. Narendranath.

A scientist of DRDO Mayank Dwivedi was also present at the camp.

Dr. Narendranath said the idea behind the project is to familiarise the local technicians about the FRO callipers by explaining them the techniques to fit the callipers .

Director of NSTL V. Bhujanga Rao inaugurated the camp.

Principal Associate Director S.V. Rangarajan and others were present.

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