29-year-old Muhammad Fazli Hasri was involved in a road accident in 2015 that resulted in the amputation of his right leg. The former salesman now works at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) Foot Care and Limb Centre, the same place he received his new prosthetic leg. As a prosthetics and orthotics (P&O) technical assistant, he now helps patients to create artificial limbs, special neck to pelvis braces, and even helmets for babies with deformed skulls. The 10,764 sq ft centre – about the size of nine five-room HDB flats – sees more than 26,000 patient visits a year. The centre is based at TTSH, a member of National Healthcare Group. It is made up of the Prosthetics & Orthotics and Podiatry Services. TTSH is the only provider of prosthetics and orthotics services in the public healthcare sector. The Straits Times executive photojournalist Neo Xiaobin looks at the work of this team that helps with the assessment, prescription, measurement, fabrication and fitting of orthoses, prostheses, and custom-made shoes.
Story published on: May 22, 2017 (straitstimes.com/singapore/health/a-leg-up-in-life)