The Barr Foundation Provides Assistance to 37 Amputees in Quito, Ecuador
Dino Cozzarreli, CPO, from Asheville, NC was instrumental in initiating "Proteses por Ecuador". Born in Ecuador, Dino grew up in the United States, and spent much time visiting family in Latin America. It became quite apparent to him that for Ecuadorians, especially the poor, finding prosthetic treatment was virtually impossible. The Ecuadorian economy is built upon oil exportation, agriculture, and manufacturing, thus demanding a large manual labor force. The sudden loss of a limb instantly reduces the chance that one may find gainful employment. The transportation infrastructure is poorly maintained and inaccessible for the disabled.
Dino recognized a frontier in great need and set out to organize a way by which the amputees in Ecuador could be served. With devotion and passion, he initiated "Proteses por Ecuador" to provide free prosthetic rehabilitation and fight for disability rights and social reintegration of rehabilitated patients.
Recently the Hermano Miguel Foundation and a team of five US O&P professionals, two technicians, and support volunteers selected and evaluated 50 patients needing prosthetic care. Donations from Otto Bock, SPS, Ossur, Friddles Orthopedic, ProtectAir included components, plastics, and plaster. In one week prostheses were fitted, aligned and delivered to 25 AKs and 25 Bks. The team work was enhanced by the knowledge that the Ecuadorian technicians would learn by watching the work being done and would be able to carry on the work needed to help other amputees in need. But the greatest accomplishment is to know that the recently fitted amputees are smiling, walking down the street, working, and living.
The success of this program led to the formation of another non-profit organization, Range Of Motion Project, based in Chicago and led by director, Dave Krupa, LP. ROMP was founded in response to the critical shortage of orthotic and prosthetic practitioners, clinics, and rehabilitation faced by a majority of disabled individuals in the developing and worn torn world. Their purpose is to facilitate the distribution of necessary resources and training in order to serve people living with amputations and other disabilities of the neuromuscular system.
The Barr Foundation has funded 37 Ecuadorian amputees through ROMP.
We salute you all!
Dino Cozzarreli CPO,
Mike Oros LPO
Dave Krupa LP, Range Of Motion Project
Members of the "Proteses por Ecuador" team.
Otto Bock, SPS, Ossur, Friddles Orthopedic and ProtectAir
