During the reporting period the Orthotics and Prosthetic Centre continued its work in the earthquake area from our base in Abbottabad. PSRD staff paid weekly visits to Balakot, Battal and Ghari Habibullah in our mobile workshop. The advantage of this was that we were able to see patients, take necessary measurements and make a cast so that the appliance could be made quickly. In view of the fact that all the foreign aided workshops were providing the latest prosthetic appliances, we concentrated on orthotic appliances for polio, club-foot etc. The project closed in April 2007, as per agreement with the Japanese Embassy.

Using our Abbottabad experience we have tried to replicate a similar project in the area of Renala Khurd and Shergarh in District Okarra. The locals are interested in the project, but the resources are lacking.

We are in contact with production companies in other countries to improve the quality of our prosthetic appliances and offer them at a reasonable price. This of course, entails visa and custom problems which we are trying to overcome.

In a five-month training course for technicians three successful candidates were appointed by PSRD.

The number of patients sent to the Orthotics and Prosthetic Centre was 2,795 and the number of appliances produced was 3,456.