The Regional Physical Rehabilitation Centre Battambang is an amazing place for transformation. Manufacturing and fitting prosthesis and orthesis for lost or damaged limbs the work they do is life changing. With several large buildings sprawling over a block of land in the city of Battambang in the west of Cambodia, the centre provides much needed assistance to those in need after serious injury. There are several components to the centre, all based on providing a functioning new prosthetic limb or repair to an existing one.

The centre treats all kinds of injuries, but manager Chim Kolvuth tells me that 85% of these are due to landmines. Catering for 5 provinces the centre deals with the large number of landmine injuries from the heavily mined western border area of Cambodia.

Groups of people line up for assessment, or talk outside waiting for partners. A volleyball court behind the assessment building is manned by teams with various arrangements of new and old prosthesis, and even a few people with both original legs intact. Outside undercover an obstacle course with stairs, beams, walkways and ramps is used by patients to get used to a new leg or support the centre has given them. Often the awkward body shape of someone moving a new man made extension is seen, and accompanying it too is the smile of accomplishment or dogged look of determination.

It’s hard to imagine the scale of transformation the centre provides; with 7253 patients receiving treatment in 2009 it truly is amazing work. Funded by the International Committee of the Red Cross, Handicap International and the Cambodia Trust the centre also works closely with the local government. The centre not only makes new limbs, but in doing so gives new futures.

2010