SANASUMA
The SANASUMA was first established in 1991 under the flagship of Friends in Need Society, the oldest NGO in Sri Lanka with the collaboration of the Jaipur Foot Program. At present SANASUMA is operating as a completely independent organization registered under the Ministry of Social Services of Sri Lanka. Many Charitable organisations such as Motivations, US Aid Christopher Blinden Mission(CBM) and Johanitter International(JI) had provided financial support, capacity development and training.
The centre is currently engaged in the provision of prosthetic services which include pre and post prosthetic management of amputees. Limbs are produced locally using polypropylene technology which enables patients to walk more comfortably as the fitting is lighter than the Jaipur aluminum limb. All patients of the centre are assessed, prescribed and fitted with tailor made products. Prescription is important as each patient’s disability, structure and environment are unique and if fitted with the wrong prosthesis or wheelchair, the user could suffer from spinal deformation and more pronounced disabilities.
SANASUMA also played an important role in the Tsunami rehabilitation in Galle. Through Tsunami Relief and Advocacy Programme (TRAP) SANASUMA identified the people who were affected by Tsunami and helping them to the extent possible. This includes service provision, advocacy on disabled people’s rights, and access for disabled people in all community houses and buildings. So far more than 300 people with physical disabilities affected by Tsunami are identified and being helped by SANASUMA.
SANASUMA was experiencing deficiency in the infrastructure both in work space and equipments to cater the increased demand for its services. So as a relief measure Motivation managed to find donors, who were interested in donating for a new building and equipping the new building for SANASUMA. CBM contributed for the land purchase and construction of the building and Johanniter International (JI) contributed for the equipments, furniture, training, and reimbursements for the appliances and materials for appliances.
