The Artificial Limb Center, located at the Rotary Club of Karachi Community Center in Gulistan-e-Johar, was established in June 2008, in collaboration with Jaipur Foot India. PP Mohammad Ovais played a key role in the establishment of the ALC. The project then partnered with the local nonprofit organization, Healthcare and Social Welfare Association (HASWA), which has been instrumental in the operations of the ALC since then.
The Centre is dedicated to restoring mobility and dignity for underserved communities. It serves as a hub for both urban and remote patients, ensuring access to high-quality prosthetic care regardless of financial background.
Two technologies are employed:
To date, more than PKR 300 million has been spent on this project. This is an ongoing project and every day the needy are provided with limbs. This could possibly be the highest free limbs provider in the country.
The ALC is run by Syed Atif, who has been serving the Centre for the past over 12 years, and who is now also a member of the RCK. He has a team of 7 dedicated technical staff, both men and women, who are highly trained in producing customized artificial limbs for patients, fitting these and instructing the patients in putting the limbs on and taking these off, and guiding them on the use of the limbs. The staff also maintains limbs which require maintenance from time to time. It is indeed a labour of love, and only people with a will to serve humanity can take on this occupation.
Art Therapy Sessions for Amputee Children
Another important activity which is carried out from time to time at the ALC is Art Therapy Sessions for amputee children. These sessions were initiated by Rtn. Obaid Fattah in 2020, with the support of his wife, and Salma Habib, who runs her own art studio in Karachi. The purpose was to build a nurturing community for children with limb loss.
More than a dozen sessions have been held to date, conducted on a voluntary basis by Salma Habib, who also personally funds the cost of the materials needed for the sessions, supplemented by donations she collects from her clients.
Initially, sessions were held once every quarter. Over time, the program has grown significantly — Now, in collaboration with a programme director from the Aga Khan Nursing School, a structured cognitive growth programme for the children is being developed. Sessions are currently held twice a month and incorporate multiple elements, including mental health therapy delivered by the community’s in-house mental health coach.
Most participants are regular attendees, and typically between 15 to 18 children attend per session. The group is largely consistent, as most children have committed and engaged parents. However, new children are also welcomed into the programme as and when possible, once they are identified and referred.
Additionally during one session, while the children engaged in activities to develop their cognitive skills, parents were individually briefed on the process of obtaining a disability stamp on their national ID card, following the required guidelines. This enables them to access concessions, discounts, and benefits offered by government institutions and other organizations. The briefing was conducted by Mr. Adnan Tariq, an employee at Aga Khan University, who volunteered his time for this initiative.
