In late March and early April, East Meets West coordinated a delegation of members from the Ellen Meadows Prosthetic Hand Foundation, Stack Plastics, and Rotary Clubs from California and Oregon on a trip to benefit people with disabilities (PWDs). The trip was made to install functional prosthetic hands for selected PWDs in three provinces and to train medical and health staff in Vietnam on how to install the hands.

The delegation provided 60 advanced prosthetic hands with fully-functioning fingers to disabled people from central and southern Vietnam through Rotary Club's LN-4 Prosthetic Hand project.  The project, which is administered by the Ellen Meadows Prosthetic Hand Foundation (EMPHF) was implemented in Vietnam in partnership with the East Meets West Foundation. Delegation members included representatives from Rotary Districts 5160 and 5110 (northern California and southern Oregon, respectively), EMPHF, Stacks Plastics, and EMW staff.

The prosthetic hands, manufactured and donated by Stacks Plastics, will enable a movement-impaired person to grip and use eating utensils, writing instruments, and hygiene devices within minutes. Recipients will be chosen on a need-basis in conjunction with local health departments and other relevant government officials.

Approximately four million Vietnamese—nearly 5% of the nation’s population—suffer from various physical disabilities and heart defects, due mainly to contact with unexploded ordinance leftover from the country’s past wars, birth defects (possibly caused by parents’ exposure to dioxin found in Agent Orange), and other typical causes of disabilities. Of this group, over 35% (twice the size of the next largest category) are movement-impaired and require assistance—such as artificial limbs—to achieve full mobility. Despite successful outreaches, however, the demand for artificial limbs in Vietnam still outstrips supply by more than two to one.

Over the last two years the LN-4 Prosthetic Hand project has provided artificial hands—free-of-charge—to over 200 individuals in seven countries. The hands were initially distributed in Vietnam in 2004 by Stack Plastics, Inc., a California-based injection molding company.  Stack Plastics’ Vice-President, Michael Mendonça, who is also a co-founder of the EMPHF and a fellow Rotarian, saw this project as an opportunity to give back. “We are just getting warmed up,” said Michael.  “How many opportunities do we have in life to be able to impact another person to this extent?”

Through their partnership with EMW, the Rotarians and the EMPHF will fit prosthetic hands on 60 people, conduct training sessions on their usage, and educate medical personnel on how to fit hands. This work was conducted over a two-week period in Danang, Quy Nhon, and Ho Chi Minh City.

“Working with these individuals in this effort is a wonderful extension of EMW’s commitments to Vietnam,” said Mark Conroy, EMW’s Country Director. “This partnership will help EMW realize its goals of providing long-lasting improvements to those most vulnerable and in-need, increasing its program activity in relation to children, and improving the lives of members of Vietnam’s large community of people with disabilities."

 

Find out more about EMW's Support Network for People with Disabilities.