Global

More than 500 people fitted with prosthetic limbs in Indonesia

The prosthetic limbs were through a collaboration with the Church and Yayasan Peduli Tuna Daksa (which translates as Limb for the Limbless Center)

16 Sept 2022, 11:22 a.m. MDT

Artificial prosthetic legs of various sizes, from full legs to ones attaching below the knee to foot and ankle ones lined up in the corner of a room with with light yellow walls and white tile floors. — More than 60 artificial prosthetic legs await at the Garut Provincial Social Service in Indonesia on Aug. 5, 2022. The prosthetics were through a collaboration of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Foundation and Yayasan Peduli Tuna Daksa, which translates as Limb for the Limbless Center. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Tatan Sutam Dur’s left leg was amputated a year ago because of a circulation disease. The 42-year-old father of two children, who lives in a village in the Garut district, Indonesia, hasn’t been able to work.

He was one of about 500 people who received a prosthetic limb through a collaboration of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Foundation and Yayasan Peduli Tuna Daksa, which translates as Limb for the Limbless Center, in several places in Java, Sumatra and Kalimantan, the Church’s Indonesia Newsroom shared.

Three photos shows Tatan Sutam Dur, whose left leg was amputated, standing on his right foot at the center; sitting and being fitted for the prosthetic with Yayasan Peduli Tuna Daksa employee, and standing with his new prosthetic leg and holding crutches. — Tatan Sutam Dur is fitted for a prosthetic leg in Garut Province, Indonesia, on Aug. 5, 2022. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

With his prosthetic leg, Dur can resume working as a carpenter.

“I am deeply grateful to everyone whose charity enabled me to receive this prosthetic limb,” Dur said when he received it in August.

Azhar Sahreja, 8, tries out his prosthetic right leg, as his mother smiles. — Azhar Sahreja, 8, tries out his prosthetic leg, with his mother at the Garut Social Service in Indonesia, on Aug. 5, 2022. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Eight-year-old Azhar Sahreja also received a prosthetic leg this summer in Garut. His right leg was amputated when he was a month old due to an infection. He walks about 2 kilometers to school daily and also likes to play soccer with friends using his crutches. He said that he was very happy to get this prosthetic.

The center provides prosthetic limbs free of charge through donations from various organizations. It specializes in assessing potential recipients, measuring and fitting them. They manufacture the custom prosthetic legs and arms in Jakarta.

Yayasan Peduli Tuna Daksa (which translates as Limb for the Limbless Center) leader Syahid demonstrates the functionality of the prosthetic to Elder Stephens in Garut Province, Indonesia, in August 2022. | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Church’s foundation is also involved with clean water projects, building and upgrading schools, and disaster assistance and emergency preparedness. Also, humanitarian missionaries help with other health and welfare-related projects.