Standing Strong

The Physical Rehabilitation Reference Center (PRRC), a joint project between ICRC and the Government of Southern Sudan, is the first orthopedic and prosthesis physical therapy center in Southern Sudan, and has been open since 2007. The center serves war-wounded victims of gunshots and land mines, supplying amputees with prosthetic legs and physiotherapy free of charge. The more complicated prosthetic elements (feet, ankle and knee joints) are fabricated in Switzerland, and the full devices are created in Juba to fit patients individually. Most patients stay for 3-6 weeks during the fitting process before returning home. Anyone is welcome as an inpatient or outpatient, depending on their needs.

Most of the amputees are gunshot and landmine victims from the long civil war between North and South Sudan. Because of lack of health care during the war, many soldiers in the southern rebel army (the SPLA) were operated on under trees, loosing a leg in order to save their life.

The type 72 small, anti-personnel landmine called a "toe popper", is very common in Southern Sudan, usually made of plastic and virtually undetectable. Often children think they are toys. Landmines remain a serious problem across the country, and many men, women and children become new victims every day.