Rehab facilities in a dire state, says support group

The prosthetics unit, located in a “dungeon-like” basement at St Luke’s Hospital, is in “a very dire state” and something must be done to improve the premises, according to Amy Camilleri Zahra of support group Amputees 4 Amputees. She said the group’s members had been working towards having adequate premises for amputee rehabilitation, including physiotherapy, and an adequate orthotics and prosthetics unit, where prostheses are made. “We hope that both units will be in very close proximity to each other in order to have continuation of care and because they are highly related,” she said. “You have to understand that, once an amputation occurs, you will have to attend the OPU for the rest of your life.” A spokesman for the Health Ministry said: “Plans are under way. However, I can’t give any details as yet because they are not finalised.” Ms Camilleri Zahra had both legs and her fingertips amputated after she contracted the deadly blood disease meningococcal septicaemia about six years ago. Today, she is fighting for the rights of amputees as president of A4A and works as an assistant manager within the National Council Persons with Disability. Earlier this month, patients with...