For 25-year-old Muwala Sangtam of Nagaland, the Field Hospital at Dimapur has come as God's gift.
A resident of Changchor village in Kiphire district who had lost both her upper limbs in 2012 in an unfortunate incident, Sangtam received artificial prostheses from the hospital which have seen her achieve "partial functionality".
She had first received treatment at the Civil hospital in Dimapur where revision surgery for both upper limbs was carried out. But the artificial limbs provided initially were very heavy and non-functional and were shortly discarded by Sangtam.
The Dimapur Field Hospital was then given responsibility by Spear Corps to provide her with artificial prosthesis for both upper limbs under Operation Sadbhavana in 2014-15.
The task, the army said in a release, was a difficult one as her limbs were amputated from the shoulder joints. The aim was to provide lightweight artificial prosthesis with partial functionality and a good cosmetic look.
The artificial limbs were procured and fitted on March 26 this year and that was followed by an intensive rehabilitation regimen.
Sangtam has been using the artificial limbs for about six months now.
"Partial functionality has been achieved, which is likely to improve further with continuous use. Her parents have been her major source of support," the statement added.
Lt Gen Bipin Rawat, GOC Spear Corps, interacted with her on September 26 and appreciated the quality of the prosthetic limbs provided to the girl and the efforts put in by the unit and specialist doctors.
He reiterated that the army would continue all efforts to help and aid the Naga people and Naga society with various welfare activities.
