Cuttack: A youth from Bolangir, who was provided with prosthetic hands by the state government after losing his biological ones in an attack last year, now wants to return the artificial organs as they have failed to serve the purpose.
Khirod Mishra of Raghabpalli in Bolangir district claimed that prosthetic hands, which were procured from a private agency at a cost of `6 lakh, are not functioning properly. He has raised the issue with doctors at the plastic surgery department of Sriram Chandra Bhanja Medical College and Hospital (SCBMCH) here and offered to return the artificial hands, fitted with computerised circuits.
“Doctors at SCBMCH plastic surgery department told me the prosthetic hands would help me in doing some basic work like eating, writing and brushing teeth. However, they are defunct and have failed to serve my purpose. I request the government and hospital authorities to take back the prosthetics and provide me financial assistance,” Mishra said.
Armed miscreants had chopped off Mishra’s hands July 7, 2015 when he was returning home after bathing in a river. He was admitted to SCBMCH where his family urged doctors to attach his hands. Doctors, however, had failed to restore Mishra’s hands and advised him to opt for prosthetic arms.
After coming to know about Mishra’s plight, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik sanctioned `6 lakh from the Orissa State Treatment Fund for procuring artificial hands. Doctors at SCBMCH procured the artificial organs from a private agency in Mumbai.
Patnaik himself donated the prosthetics to Mishra February 3 this year.
“Doctors are now advising me not to return the prosthetics. They say the issue will be raised at a conference of medical practitioners, scheduled to be held in Bhubaneswar in February,” Mishra said.
Arun Choudhury, a senior doctor at SCBMCH, said they will take steps to ensure the artificial hands are fully functional. “The prosthetics provided to Mishra need to be repaired,” he added.
SCBMCH superintendent Pratap Rath said he is not aware of the issue. “We will consult doctors at the plastic surgery department to solve Mishra’s problems,” Rath added.
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