PROFILE
PROFOMA is set up by German Leprosy Relief
Association for manufacturing Natural Rubber footwear and post operational
support materials for the Leprosy patients, under their rehabilitation
programme.
MCR Sheets are also used for the construction of footwear &
post operational support for Diabetic and Orthopaedic patients.
HISTORY
Protective footwear is an important component in
foot-care. Provision of footwear should be considered as a 'mandatory
measure' and not as an extra, optional rehabilitation measure. According
to a Guideline, titled 'Prevention of Disability' for leprosy control
programmes by the Medical Commission of International Federation
of Anti-leprosy Association (ILEP), London,
" Protective footwear should
be worn by all patients with sole sensory loss, whether or not they
have sole wounds, throughout their lifetime.
MCR Cushioned insole will distribute walking pressure more widely
over the sole and thus minimise the risk of wounds at pressure sites
".
AVAILABILITY OF MICRO CELLULAR RUBBER
SHEETS FOR THE FOOT-WEAR AND POST OPERATIONAL SUPPORT FOR LEPROSY
TREATMENT WERE IN SHORT SUPPLY.
Late Mr. Hermann Kober,
Executive Director of German Leprosy Relief Association, Wurzburg,
Federal Republic of Germany, vide his letter dated 18th June, 1990
wrote to the Director of their Indian Secretariat to find out the
possibilities of establishing a Micro Cellular Rubber (MCR) production
unit in India for catering to the requirements of leprosy patients,
as recommended by the Leprosy Division, Director General of Health
Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India,
in their various Guidelines for NLEP.
GLRA Rehabilitation Fund
GLRA Rehabilitation Fund in its XI AGB meeting
held on 26th August,1991 discussed at length the issue of providing
protective footwear materials after taking into account the suggestion
of International and National Agencies, the short supply of footwear
materials at present, the future demand of footwear materials for
prevention of disability and the views of the funding agencies at
Germany unanimously decided to establish a MCR production unit at
Palakkad. The land for the factory was allotted by the Government
of Kerala and the technical support from the Technical Consultancy
Service of Rubber Board, Kottayam (a Central Govt. Org.). The financial
support from Economic Ministry of FRG and GLRA, Wurzburg, FRG.
Necessity of Rehabilitation
German Leprosy Relief Association had launched
a rehabilitation scheme at Madras in the year 1974 to help the victims
of leprosy, to overcome the handicaps caused by the disease and
to fight against the non-chalant attitude of the contemporary society
with the following objectives: |