LG and Hotpoint Appliances to give amputees artificial limbs

Patients with various physical deformities will now benefit from artificial limbs thanks to a Ksh2.5 million sponsorship, from LG Electronics and Hotpoint Appliances.

There has been a steady rise in the number of patients in need of limb operation and artificial prosthetics owing to diseases such as diabetes and cancer; and road accidents which often lead to loss of limbs. The artificial limbs used in the treatment are imported from Geneva, Switzerland.

PCEA Kikuyu Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Centre (KORC) attends to about 300 patients annually, with most unable to finance the cost of treatment which ranges from KSh15,000 up to about KSh1 million. 

Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr James Kigera receives a cheque worth Ksh2.5million on behalf of the PCEA Kikuyu Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Centre from the Managing Director of LG East Africa Mr Josep Kim (centre) and Hotpoint Appliances Managing Director Mr Sailesh Kanani (left).

“About 40 percent of our patients are children suffering from congenital diseases, motorcycle accidents have also become a common cause,” says Dr Choi Seodong.

The PCEA Kikuyu Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Centre (KORC) is one of the few facilities in Kenya that provide orthopaedic, reconstructive surgery and rehabilitation for patients with physical deformities. 

Annually about 5000 patients are seen and over 800 surgical procedures performed at the hospital.  The facility also specializes in fabricating artificial limbs for amputees, treating and fixing fractured bones and total hip and knee joint replacements.

The beneficiaries will be treated through a partnership between the two companies and the PCEA Kikuyu Hospital’s Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Centre.

The partnership which has been ongoing since 2005 has benefitted about 1000 patients most of whom come from poor backgrounds and cannot afford the treatment costs. 

Speaking during the partnership signing event, LG Electronics Managing Director for East and Central Africa region MrJosep Kim said the partnership and its achievements were a good case of how the business community can improve the lives of the disadvantaged

“LG Electronics believes in giving back to the communities in which we do business through causes that empower them to achieve their full potential. We have done this over the years with the support of our business partner in Hotpoint Appliances Limited,” said Mr Kim.

Under the partnership, PCEA Kikuyu and the two partners will share the cost of labor and personnel for the entire process of the operation which will cover the full cost of pre-screening of the patients and any other logistics for the project.

Mr. Shailesh Kanani, the Hotpoint Appliances Managing Director said through the partnership, beneficiaries had regained hope and were now empowered to continue with their livelihoods.

“This programme has restored hope to hundreds of beneficiaries and improved their quality of life.  We will continue supporting this cause and we are always searching for any initiatives that can help improve the lives of those within our communities” said Mr. Kanani.

The hospital’s Managing Director Mr Patrick Kimpiatu said through the partnership, the facility had increased its reach to deserving cases in the community.

“We have managed to increase the number of patients who require artificial limbs as a result of this support and I would really like to thank our partners Hotpoint Appliances and LG Electronics” he said.