Re: Limbs and Light/Nicaragua Ampuee Assistance Effort

Re: Limbs and Light/Nicaragua Ampuee Assistance Effort

Tony Barr

12/9/1999

Miles, John Zeffer C.P.,whom has coordinated and successfully worked with
The Barr Foundation on many amputee assistance missions in Mexico and in
Belize,Central America, has addressed important issues that need to be
answered before our organization would consider committing prosthetic
components for your mission to Nicaragua.

It is of the most importance that we can assure our board of directors and
the Where Hope Meets Help Donors that you have a strategic workable plan for
your trip. I would also request additional information concering the
infrastructure of delivery, treatment and follow up care to amputees in
this region.

We stand ready to furnish you with prosthetic component inventory upon
confirmation of a workable plan and substainability of the program after you
leave. I congratulate you on your good intentions and humanatarian efforts,
but unfortunately upon personally visting this region, I have
discovered,often times there can be many unexpected surprises and
obstacles in getting the mission accomplished and the donations
successfully fitted to the end intended user.
Perhaps our organization can help but we would rely heavily on John Zeffer's
advice who has had experience in confronting and overcoming such obstacles
in this area of the world.

Perhaps others on the O&P listserve may provide assistance and advice for
your mission.
In addition to Mr. Zeffer's questions:
Have you developed a wish list of prosthetic components and supplies?
Where would deliveries be made?
Are qualified experienced practitioners traveling with you or are they at
your intended destination?
Is the equipment and facility in place for the proper evaluation,
fabrication and delivery?
Do the components you seek fit the lifestyle and provide durability for the
lifestye of the country?
Have you obtained a government links with Nicaragua the other countries
you will be required to travel thru to avoid possible duties,tariffs and
unavoidable corruption?What is your planned travel route?

I look forward to learning more.
Anthony T. Barr
President
The Barr Foundation
www.oandp.com/barr

----- Original Message -----
From: John A. Zeffer < <Email Address Redacted> >
To: < <Email Address Redacted> >
Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 1999 12:15 PM
Subject: Re: Limbs and Light


> Let me understand. You are going to drive down to Nicaragua with a busload
> of used, donated prosthetic limbs and dispense them to amputees who are
> going to put them on and find benefit? Have you done this before? How will
> you discriminate between the landmine victim and the car accident, or
> diabetic? I am really interested in where this energy comes from and
wonder
> if it could be applied to another program that may be working already. The
> solar equipment is an interesting addition. Looking forward to learning
> more. J Zeffer
>
> At 10:36 AM 12/8/99 -0500, Miles wrote:
> >Perhaps you can help me with this. I am looking for contacts at
hospitals,
> >clinics and companies that deal with prosthetics and rehabilitation. In
> >January I will be driving to Nicaragua with a bus load of prosthetic
limbs
> >and solar equipment. Landmine victims will be given help with
> >rehabilitation and trained as solar technicians to assist in bringing
> >lighting to the 40% of Nicaraguans who do not have access to electricity.
I
> >am looking for donations of used prosthetics to take down. If you can
point
> >me in the right direction, I would be very grateful.
> >
> >Thanks in advance,
> >Miles Meili
> >Halifax
> >902-443-2368
> >
> >