Limpho Sello
MEDICAL Orthotist and Prosthetist, Chabeli Mohatlane, yesterday donated prosthetic devices to four needy people as a way of giving back to the community.
The donation was made during a Christmas party Mr Mohatlane hosted at his Maseru Industrial Area-based workshop which provides artificial limbs and various types of corrective and supportive devices.
The four beneficiaries received a shoulder support and cock up splint, a special positioning chair, an above knee prosthesis and a drop foot splint.
Mr Mohatlane is Lesotho’s only registered medical orthotist and prosthetist, a branch of medicine dealing with the making and fitting of artificial human limbs.
Addressing the gathering, Mr Mohatlane said he was inspired to pursue the career by his father, Thabang Mohatlane, who was Lesotho’s first qualified orthotist. He said the gesture was motivated by the need to assist Basotho living with disability so they can live healthy and productive lives.
“These devices were a necessity for the beneficiaries, but they could not afford them due to their high cost,” Mr Mohatlane said.
“I have lived closely with people living with physical disability, and I know how much they struggle when they go to hospitals seeking services they desperately need.
“However, some end up being turned away because of the exorbitant costs of the services they need.”
One of the beneficiaries, Kabelo Mahlehla, said Mr Mohatlane’s has been with him since his leg was amputated “some years ago”.
“I wanted to quit school after the amputation because I felt incomplete as a human being. However, when I met Mr Mohatlane, he made me a prosthetic leg and now I feel so normal that people don’t notice that my leg was amputated,” Mr Mahlehla said.
“I must confess that at one point I wanted to end my life because of my disability. But now, I am well, I am happy and I can work like an able-bodied person”
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