The Wenlock District Hospital in Mangaluru has transformed its 54-year-old artificial limb centre into a cutting-edge endoprosthetic centre. The centre, originally established by Prof Dr. M. Shantharam Shetty, founder of Tejasvini Hospital and SSIOT, has served over 80,000 individuals with artificial limbs. Dr. Shetty highlighted that the new facility uses the latest technology to produce prosthetic limbs.
The upgrade, costing approximately Rs 22 lakh, was funded by various agencies, including a Rs 5.5 lakh donation from Lions International. Dr. Shetty explained, “The centre’s funds have also been utilized for the upgrade. We used to manufacture artificial limbs using conventional methods, but now we produce lighter prosthetic limbs with endolite prosthesis. Although these new limbs are about three times costlier, Wenlock Hospital ensures accessibility for poor patients through donations from Lions and other donors, while others can purchase them if they can afford it.”
Over the past five decades, the centre has distributed 82,000 artificial appliances, mostly free of cost. Dr. Shetty also noted that while the centre is still known as the Lions Centre for the Physically Handicapped, a more appropriate name would be the Centre for Differently Challenged, acknowledging the challenges in renaming it.