Project PROJIMO/Mexico
The Barr foundation started a pilot program in Mexico with the help and support of another non-profit organization based in California called HEALTHWRIGHTS www.healthwrights.org and run by David Werner from Palo Alto and author of the internationally distributed book, Where There Is No Doctor.
A February 2004 evaluation trip of the PROJIMO site and evaluation of 20 amputee candidates was completed by Tony Barr, President of the Barr Foundation, Wayne Koniuk, CP of San Francisco Prosthetic Services and Barr Foundation board member, volunteer Jon Batzdorf, CPO of Sierra Labs, cocoordinated by David Werner of HealthWrights and Dr. Glenn Pfeffer, President of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society, practicing in San Francisco.
Project PROJIMO is located in the small village of Coyotitan about 50 miles north east of Mazatlan, Mexico. It is a village completely dedicated and occupied by the handicapped and serviced by the handicapped. There, handicapped people were in wheel chairs and on gurneys making wheel chairs and spina bifida patients were helping with bracing.
"Of all the countries visited, and all the third world amputees that the Barr Foundation has helped, this was the most inspiring effort witnessed of people helping their own," said foundation president, Anthony T. Barr.
The Barr Foundation provided assistance to 20 amputees in the pilot program with the support of the PROJIMO's local prosthetic technicians. Help can be used in receiving donated sach feet, pylons, adapters and knee units. The sockets are or will be fabricated on site at PROJIMO's simplistic but functional lab in Mexico and will be funded by the Barr Foundation and the Rotary Club of Culican, Mexico.
These are very poor people who cannot afford any form of prosthetic rehabilitation. Collaboration with the Rotary Club of Culican shared equally the cost of fabricating sockets and assurance of safe and secure delivery of donations.
Already received were, sach feet from Kingsley manufacturing and stump socks from Royal Knit. Needed items were pylon tubing, (10) 4-bar knee units, 20 sach feet adapters and 10 knee adapters.
As always the Barr Foundation provides donors with our federal non-profit identification number for taxdeductible purposes and exposure for their generosity as a Hope Donor Club Member.
