According to "What happens to prosthetics and implants after you die?” from the BBC Future, there are three organizations that collect prosthetics and implants from donation. The first one is a charity, from Tennessee in US, named Standing With Hope. They recycle unwanted artificial arms and legs by shipping these things to the developing countries and wearing it to patients there. The second organization which this article mentioned is Dutch company Orthometals. Because titanium and cobalt alloy are used in implantation, so they can collect a huge tons of metals from ash of dead body after cremation and sell it to the automobile and aeronautical industries or even sell these stuffs to the medical industry, just like Implant Recycling, US company, do. Finally, the last charity is Pace4Life in UK. They collect pacemakers which still can functionally for stimulating the heart from funeral and use it in India.
After I read this article, I impress with good intentions from these charities because they give opportunities for disadvantaged people and encourage them for the better life. It is like a second chance for them to living normally. In my perspective, the way that Standing With Hope organized is very clever because they don't need a lot of man power and funds. They started their campaign in the website which is not expensive and asked for donation. When donors sent these old artificial limbs to them by the mail, they just passed these things to the prison workshop, at Metro Davidson County Detention Facility, and worked together with prisoners. After they stripped all prosthetics into components, packed in boxes, collected these things in a large amount then shipped these directly to Ghana in one time.
I am the one who collect a pull tab on the can for donating. But it is still not enough because I don't like all kind of soft drink and the only way I can get this thing is eating canned fish. Therefore, I need to eat canned fishes for 840 times to get a artificial leg right? In Thailand, I usually see a campaign which is asking for money to arrange a charity. I am not sure that our money is used for the right purpose or not? It will be better if we can access to information and follow up all process of charity in a real time from our own computers. Make it easier to verify the progression like a stock exchange is a good idea.
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I've heard that new technology can cut some cost of artificial body parts ,and they are much cheaper than the past, which is a great news. But, for some people, they still can't afford it. In this case charities are very helpful. Moreover, I can't agree more with you about a donation tracking system. It will make sure that our money are used in the way we want it to be or not.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that these charity organization are great. I think non-governmental organization is what Thailand actually lacks which would be very helpful in long term period.
ReplyDeleteGenerally, public services provided from the government is needed, but sometimes the government has no capability to do everything with limited resources and manpower. NGOs can be a good supporter to help contribute public goods instead of the government.
However, there are few people initiative and participation in Thailand. This is such a long journey for us to have such things here but I think it would be more in the future for sure.
I really like these charities. I see many people donate their organs, but I've never seen that there are people donating artificial body parts. In fact, I've never known that these artificial things can be recycled. The new artificial body part is very expensive, so many handicapped people can't afford. I think this is a good way for those who don't have enough money.
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