April Is Limb Loss Awareness Month

1. Raising awareness about people with limb differences and the issues they are struggling with needs to happen on all fronts. And all of us have to play a very crucial role in it.
2. There are approximately 185,000 amputations in the US alone every year. In 2013, there were around 2.1 million amputees in the US, and by 2050, this figure is projected to increase to 3.6 million. In India the number is even greater.
3. Throughout the month, amputee support groups across the world organize events to “show their mettle” and raise limb loss awareness by planning and holding walk/run/roll events in their communities to empower people affected by limb loss to achieve their full potential.

Psychological Effects of Amputation 

1. Amputation is a major health burden on the families, society, and on medical services as well. 
2. Traumatic limb amputation is a catastrophic injury and an irreversible act which is sudden and emotionally devastating for the victims.
3. In addition, amputation causes inability to support self and the family and driving many patients toward various psychiatric disorders.
4. As per a study conducted by Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India on the amputations caused by motor vehicle accident, railway track accidents, machinery injury, blasts, etc., the prevalence of psychiatric disorders among amputees was found to be in the range of 32% to 84% including depression rates 10.4%–63%, post-traumatic stress disorder 3.3%–56.3%, and phantom limb phenomenon 14%–92%. 
5. Although the studies reported that symptoms of anxiety and depression become better over the course of time, however surgical treatment providers need to liaise with psychiatrists and psychologists to support and deal with the psychological disturbances.

Steps India Need to take to spread awareness on Limb Loss

1. Though India has come up with the scheme called “Divyang Pension” which aims at providing pension to the handicaps, this isn’t sufficient as the idea lacks spreading awareness and rehabilitation of handicaps.
2. For giving equal treatment to the handicaps, the institutions must facilitate handicapped friendly arrangements like wheelchairs, ramp facility etc.
3. India should also join hands with Amputee Coalition and extend their support to promote limb loss awareness. Although the numbers are not clear in India with regard to the number of limb loss cases in India every year, it is clear that there are millions who are deprived of medical equipments and adequate health facilities. 
4. Limb loss undoubtedly not only leads to loss of employment but also loss of reputation, loss of employability and loss of confidence in a person. It is therefore for the government to make sure that social justice is done to these people and they are rehabilitated back to the normal world overcoming their stress. The government besides providing monetary relief should also make sure that a handicapped friendly environment and psychological counselling is provided to the amputees on regular basis.