The Jaipur Foot has set foot in Karachi, where Pakistan’s first permanent Artificial Limb Centre (ALC) was inaugurated yesterday after a 20-day training programme by a four-member team from Jaipur. And, if all goes well, India may soon get an artificial hand from Sialkot.According to D R Mehta, founder president of the Mahavir Vikalang Sahayata Samiti (MVSS) — the creators of the Jaipur Foot, the technology for the artificial upper limb is still in the design stage. “If the design works out, then India will supply Pakistan with the artificial Jaipur Foot, and they will supply us with the artificial hand,” he said. Mehta pointed out that Sialkot is well known for its craftsmanship in sporting goods and medical instruments. “But more than anything, we hope the arrangement will spread much needed goodwill,” he added.“We are in the developing stage. A few samples are ready, but have to be tested before being supplied,” said Dr Firoz Ismail, who runs the Healthcare and Social Welfare Association (HASWA) in Pakistan. The organisation in working closely with MVSS in designing the artificial hand.Speaking to The Sunday Express over the telephone, Dr Ismail said the hand joints should be ready soon. He pointed out that Sialkot, known for its precision instruments, was capable of such a design.The Jaipur Foot technology is famed for its mobility and excellent design as well as its cost effectiveness. According to Mehta, an artificial leg from the MVSS is priced at about $ 40 or Rs 1,800, while in the US it costs about $ 8,000 or Rs 3.45 lakh. “Such was the reception in Pakistan that the four-member team from MVSS treated around 100 patients before even launching the artificial limb centre,” he said. The team included Dr Ariza Khan, Dr Kishen Pal, Dr Kazim Khan and Dr Sudanshu Roy.“The response was unbelievable. There was no publicity or advertisements, as we were training technicians and doctors from Pakistan. But patients trickled in from the first day onwards,” said Dr Ariza Khan, who led the team from India. The team has been in Karachi since June 9.
