ISPO 17th WORLD CONGRESS

Mr. Friedbert Kohler, representative of the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics, Dr. Takaaki Chin, President of ISPO Japan, Dr. Dick Plettenburg, Scientific Committee Chair of the 17th World Congress, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen.

It is so timely that this congress is held in Japan with the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic games in view. I am confident that the incredible performances of the Paralympians who are using Prosthetics and Orthotics (P&O) would move the hearts of all in astonishment and amazement. This will be a wonderful and empowering moment to unlock the unlimited potential of people with disabilities. It is every single one of you here, who are supporting all these Paralympians.

Let me share a story of a young lady, Miss. Raissa Laurel. She was a bright college student in the Philippines, studying to become a lawyer. However, she was seriously injured and lost both her lower limbs in a terrorist bomb attack on the day she was to sit for a bar examination. “I will never give up my dream. I will not bow to a thing like this.” Her determined words of courage and hope impressed not only myself but all the people in the Philippines. I visited her at the hospital and promised to give her prosthetic legs. She thanked me with a huge smile and said she will become a leader of the people with disabilities. A year later, she sent me a letter, promising to re-challenge life with her new legs, as well as a photo of herself at a boxing training gym. She was given an opportunity to speak at the United Nations and is continuing her work actively.

The Nippon Foundation has supported people with disabilities for more than 50 years. From early 1990s, we extended our support particularly to Southeast Asia as there were many people who were victimized from landmines used in internal conflicts. We wanted them to once again regain their physical function and their life. We started our support on simple prosthetics to 100,000 people in Viet Nam.

But feeling a strong need to educate P&O professionals locally, we supported the establishment of schools in six countries, namely – Cambodia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Myanmar. We also lobbied for the advancement of the status of P&O professionals to be integrated into the national health system. Collaboration with government is crucial. We have gradually handed over the school operation to the Ministry of Health over the period of 10 years. And the schools now run independently in each country, even after the end of our support.

P&Os have been provided to over 500,000 people in need. I would be very happy if our contribution has been beneficial for each country to now work independently on this issue.

The Nippon Foundation will continue supporting the people with disabilities to be fully integrated into society.

Thank you very much.