After a tragic traffic accident caused his legs to be amputated, he fell into a coma that lasted 30 days and almost lost his life. The accident led him to the idea of launching the Amputee Association, after the rehabilitation center where he completed his treatment offered him to work with it and study physical therapy, to become a trainer and supporter for amputee patients at the same center.
President of the Amputee Association, Majid Saadi Al-Otaibi; Who spoke to Okaz, revealed that the association’s objectives are fully consistent with “Vision 2030” in terms of reducing operational expenses in the field of prosthetics, and empowering the association and health practitioners specialized in the field of prosthetics, amputations, and related treatments, pointing out that the association needs to An incubator headquarters that houses its employees and provides the opportunity for expansion.
Al-Otaibi stated that the idea of the Amputee Association began when he was exposed to a traffic accident in 2011 AD. He was a teacher and while he was returning home from school, he was driving the car a little too fast. One of the tires exploded and the car collided with a bridge. The result was that he entered a coma that lasted a month and had his legs amputated. Above the knees.
He said, “I was transferred to the rehabilitation center and had two prosthetic limbs installed. Because I entered a long rehabilitation program for three years, which included strengthening the muscles and then fitting the limbs in stages until they were fitted to the same height that I was at, and I began training, then at a later stage two newer limbs were fitted, until I reached the running stage.”
Post rehabilitation
Al-Otaibi added, “After completing the rehabilitation phase, the rehabilitation center itself offered me to work with them and study physical therapy to become a trainer and supporter for amputee patients at the center. After I worked with them, I began to notice through the center’s visitors that there were problems with their limbs that they had previously installed in different locations. It was old and made of poor materials that could cause more complications for the amputee, and was not appropriate for his age, with flaws in rehabilitative physical therapy, in contrast to the treatment I received, which was the best and most modern, as psychological support, a physical therapist, an occupational therapist, and a specialist cooperated in it. Prosthetic limbs, headed by the rehabilitation advisory team, determined the type of prosthetic limb based on muscle strength, age, and the highest level of limb types in the world.”
Here is the idea generator
Majid added, “From that observation, the need to have a special program for amputees emerged, starting with psychological support, then with the doctor or rehabilitation consultant diagnosing the type of prosthetic limb, the strength of the beneficiary person, the type of amputation he suffered, the quality of the prosthetic limb, and the appropriate decision regarding The prosthetic limb depends on age and muscle strength. There may even be other criteria that concern the beauty of the prosthetic limb. Especially in the case of females, and from here was the beginning of the idea of the Amputee Association. To provide all treatments according to the stages mentioned, then training after going home in the aspects of life related to sitting, moving from a chair to a bed, and ways to prepare the house from bathrooms and entrances, taking care of the prosthetic limb, and the number of hours of use per day; It should not exceed four hours, and how to move between high and low places, etc.
Regarding the association’s members, Al-Otaibi said that they exceed 30 members, pointing out that the association, like other Saudi charities, is built on donor institutions and businessmen, “and the support of the Ministry of Human Resources is limited according to certain procedures.”
Challenges facing the association
Al-Otaibi stated that one of the challenges facing the association now is how to implement its ambitions. It is considering bringing in the leading international companies in the manufacture of prosthetic limbs, thus reducing the price cost of these limbs. Moreover, these brought companies, with their specialized cadres, will train Saudis to work in this field and achieve sufficiency. Self-manufacturing of prosthetic limbs, in addition to what will be achieved through local training for Saudi health practitioners, away from the high costs of external training.
He explained that there is a program in the association to support owners of amputated limbs. Employment in the association includes being part of the peer support team that carries out various work in community awareness, and providing various services in the field, even to amputee athletes, to participate in sports competitions inside and outside the Kingdom.
Regarding his ambitions for the future, Al-Otaibi said that the association needs an incubator headquarters that will house its employees, provide the opportunity for expansion and provide a place for the companies that will be brought in, and there will be a factory for prosthetic limbs, and a club for amputees that will provide a place for seminars, courses, lectures, and all cultural and entertainment fields, and hosting amputees until From different parts of the world to exchange experiences and benefit from the diversity of experiences, the association also needs a dedicated endowment that constitutes sustainable resources to ensure stable revenues that help it perform its work.
