Centre for Handicapped

Rehabilitation services for women and girls with disabilities

With the grant from Zonta International, the Centre for Handicapped in Sri Lanka provided 25 women and girls with below-the-knee artificial limbs, four women and girls with above-the-knee artificial limbs and two women with below-the-elbow artificial limbs. This enables them to live a full and productive life.

The Zonta Club of Kandy supported the application that was awarded with a grant of US$4,400.

One of the beneficiaries, a 46-year-old mother of two and housemaid, shared her story. "My husband and I were having an argument which turned into a fight and he attacked me, due to this I was severely injured, I was taken to the Colombo General Hospital by the family members. The doctors who examined me said that my leg was severely damaged and in order to save my life, the left leg had to be amputated from below the knee. I underwent surgery and had to stay at the Hospital for nearly two months till I recovered fully.

"While at home I came to know about the Centre for Handicapped through a friend and I visited the center. After having explained my present financial situation to the officials at the center they said an artificial limb could be fitted free of charge as they had a donor who was sponsoring the limb. Accordingly, they referred me for the necessary measurements and fitted an artificial limb.

I don’t feel disabled anymore. I attend to all my work as I did previously. I take this opportunity to thank the Zonta Club of Kandy and also the staff at the Centre for Handicapped for their kindness and all the efforts taken by them to help me walk again."