What is Limbs for Life?

Limbs For Life Prostheses Centre (LFL) is a welfare project of Bandar Utama Buddhist Society (BUBS) which offers artificial limbs to all Malaysian amputees from poor or under-privileged background for FREE regardless of race or religion.

What do we do ?

LFL offers a gift of hope, self-dignity and freedom from bondage to amputees by helping them to overcome their challenges and giving them an opportunity for a second chance at life. Many of the amputees are able-bodied and mentally sound people who are rendered immobile, unproductive and their lives wasted away due to unfortunate circumstances.

WHAT WE STRIVE TO ACHIEVE

With FREE prosthetic limbs, these amputees can now go on to live a full, independent and productive life. We believe that each life is precious, each human being is capable of living up to his or her potential and be a contributing member of the community. Ultimately it is the society at large and the country in particular that will benefit when its people can live a meaningful and productive life. This is a gift of hope and well-being not only to the amputees but also to their spouses, children and family members who are care-givers. LFL will also offer to service, repair and maintain existing prostheses which are made by our centre.

WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO

Giving (Dāna) is one of the essential preliminary steps of Buddhist practice. Dāna is the practice of cultivating generosity. When we bring happiness into the lives of others, we are giving in a very meaningful way. Hence, Limbs For Life was initiated to offer a second chance at life for amputees from poor or underprivileged families to live a full, independent and productive life.

History

Limbs For Life Prostheses Centre was officially launched on 23rd February 2014. It is a community service project initiated by Bandar Utama Buddhist Society (BUBS) in cooperation with Thailand’s non-governmental organisation, Prostheses Foundation of H.R.H the Princess Mother located in Chiang Mai.

In May 2013 BUBS signed an MOU and MOA with Prostheses Foundation of H.R.H the Princess Mother which governs the transfer of technology and know-how of making prosthetic limbs as well as the supply of machineries, equipment, tools, prosthetic parts and materials from Prostheses Foundation of H.R.H the Princess Mother to Limbs For Life Prostheses Centre. For more information on Prostheses Foundation of H.R.H the Princess Mother, please visit their website www.prosthesesfoundation.or.th

BUBS in cooperation with The Prostheses Foundation of HRH The Princess Mother from Thailand (Prostheses Foundation) set up Limbs For Life Prostheses Centre to produce the cost effective prosthetic limbs developed by Associate Professor Dr Therdchai Jivacate (Founder and Secretary General of the Prostheses Foundation). The estimated unit cost of such prosthetic limbs is much lower than the commercial ones and with a turnaround time of 2 days once the amputees are confirmed suitable by a doctor for the fitting of the prosthetic limb.

With the signing of the agreement, work on the Limbs For Life Prostheses Centre began and in October 2013, the first prosthetic limb by LFL was fitted. Besides the sharing of expertise from Prostheses Foundation, LFL is also supported by a team of dedicated volunteer doctors from the University of Malaya Medical Centre, Hospital Sungai Buloh and other hospitals in the Klang Valley. Thus, in terms of technical know-how and support, LFL is confident of providing sustainable and comprehensive support to amputees from poor or under-privileged background in Malaysia.

LFL Prostheses Centre is located on the lower ground floor of BUBS premise at No. 3 Jalan BU 3/1, Bandar Utama, 47800 Petaling Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.