(Recast)Feature: ICRC orthopedic center reshapes lives for physically challenged in Afghanistan

"Treating the war-wounded is a pillar of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), we want to fundamentally change their lives by knowing the destiny of each individual affected by the war," said ICRC President Peter Maurer Wednesday.

Maurer made the remarks to Xinhua during his field trip to an orthopedic center, fully-funded by the ICRC in Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of north Afghanistan's Balkh Province.

Established in 1991, the orthopedic center treats almost 15,000 patients annually and some 60 patients were receiving treatment or physical therapy during the the ICRC president's visit.

"I think what the orthocenter does here is quite significant for Afghanistan as 0.7 percent of national GDP is being lost to people become handicapped. We treat them and help them reintegrate into society, it will be good for the whole country," said Maurer.

Besides helping the war-wounded, the orthocenter also receives accident victims across Afghanistan and the treatment and physical therapy will be a lifelong program for each of them.

Beyond physical assistance, the center also launched a program of social reintegration to further help those physically challenged to make positive contributions in their future.

Eighty-five percent of the staff working for the center were once patients receiving treatment there.

Ferdaws, 9, started receiving therapy in this center ten months ago as he became paralyzed after falling from the roof of his house.

Constantly lying in bed, he must frequently lift weights to strengthen his arm muscles, under the instruction and supervision of his therapist.

"I feel very grateful to this center as they are helping my son," said Ferdaws' father, "the staff here are very nice and professional."

Nineteen-year-old Rozi Bai came to the center two months ago for physical therapy as he has been paralyzed for ten years.

After being fitted with prothetic legs by the orthocenter, he comes often to practice walking, utilizing all kinds of facilities on offer.

Bai told Xinhua that although an accident somehow destroyed his normal life, the ICRC's center in Balkh helped reshape his future from such an unexpected trauma.

"This is the humanitarian work we are doing," said Maurer, "we are not only giving them artificial limbs, we are giving them a life." Enditem