For this, the NA has sought a budget of Rs 25 million for construction works, equipment and human resources needed for the center. A comprehensive rehabilitation program of the victims would include physical and psychological rehabilitation, sexual, occupational and vocational therapies and social awareness programs.
"There is a need for Rs 20 million for completing the construction work and another Rs 5 million for purchasing more equipment," a NA source said, adding, "NA has just purchased equipment worth Rs 1.7 million for the physiotherapy section, which already has equipment worth Rs 2.5 million."
Commandant of the Center Brigadier General Dr Bachchu Ram KC said NA is yet to complete the first phase of the project. "If we get government nod, the center will come into full operation within three years." There are currently 55 personnel working at the center, which needs at least 218 personnel, KC informed.
The center, which initially provided facilities only to disabled NA men for the last six years, has also been open to civilians for the last one year. Since May, the center´s artificial limb and appliance department has provided prostheses and orthoses to 25 people of whom 5 were civilians. This section has received ICRC Nepal´s technical assistance for nine months.
The most commonly encountered disabilities include loss of limbs (hand/leg), paraplegia (inability to move both lower limbs and inability to pass urine and stool), quadriplegia (inability to move all four limbs), loss of vision or hearing, impaired hand and leg functions due to muscular or nerve injury, impaired joint movements, compromised body function due to internal chest and abdominal visceral injuries and compromised body functions as a result of head injuries.
"A rehabilitation center which encompasses all facilities for such disabilities is the need of the nation," KC said, adding, "A concrete policy starting from surveillance of the victims to sending the victims back to the society with new skills should be formulated at the national level." According to him, the center should have a surveillance team, physiotherapy unity, artificial limb and appliance workshop, psychotherapy unit, paraplegic home, general ward with 100 beds for amputees, vocational training center and awareness initiatives. "The focus so far has been only on physical rehabilitation. We need to extend all services," KC said.
KC said a "government-level coordination team" must bring all organizations and individuals involved in the rehabilitation efforts together and formulate and execute effective programs so as to also optimize the already scarce resources.
Spread over 50 ropani land, the center currently has temporary office complex, physiotherapy unit, space for artificial limb workshop, family paraplegic home (4), single paraplegic home (16), dinning facility and temporary staff accommodation. The center aims to have a total of 64 paraplegic homes. Its current services include physiotherapy, paraplegic home and vocational training.
Besides, the services are provided at a minimum cost with nominal fee of Rs 50, partial payment of Rs 100 and full payment of Rs 150. The single accommodation cost is Rs 100 per day. "We have treated very low-income people free of cost," KC said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal is scheduled to pay an inspection visit to the center on Sunday. Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Rakam Chemjong will be visiting the center on Monday, the NA said.
akanshya@myrepublica.com
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