Riyadh: After weeks of evaluation and rehabilitation, the day Matilda had been eagerly anticipating, yet also dreading, finally arrived. With the assistance of the team, she stood for the first time with both prosthetic limbs in place. Step by step, she began the journey of regaining her balance, learning to walk again, and reclaiming the life she thought she had lost.
According to Kuwait News Agency, support extended beyond the physical realm. The specialized team provided crucial psychological support, helping Matilda accept her new body and build her self-confidence. They diligently trained her on how to use her prosthetic limbs in everyday activities, from walking and running to playing games. Matilda underwent regular follow-up sessions to ensure a smooth transition and adaptation to her new life with the prosthetics. Gradually, she regained her independence, no longer reliant on others for assistance.
The prosthetic limbs and rehabilitation center reflects Saudi Arabia’s pioneering role in international humanitarian work. Recognizing the critical importance of alleviating human suffering and enabling individuals to live dignified lives, the Kingdom, through KSrelief, implements and expands humanitarian and relief projects. The center prioritizes localizing and improving prosthetic limb services and rehabilitation programs, while also building the capacities of local health institutions to ensure the sustainability of these vital services.
KSrelief adopts a meticulous approach to selecting and classifying beneficiaries for the prosthetic limbs and rehabilitation program. The selection process relies on lists of amputation patients provided by the Ministry of Health in the respective countries where the project is implemented. Priority is given to amputation patients resulting from direct war injuries, mines, or the remnants of war, encompassing all age groups, children under the age of 18 suffering from motor disabilities due to amputation or congenital deformities, and other categories, such as individuals injured in traffic accidents or those affected by various diseases.
The program empowers target groups by providing them with the opportunity to reintegrate into society and engage in various activities independently. This enhances their economic, social, and psychological well-being. Through its four centers, the program offers free, high-quality services to beneficiaries in countries in critical need, including Yemen, Syria, those affected by the earthquake in Turkiye, and those impacted by the Ukrainian war in the Republic of Poland.
The prosthetics and rehabilitation program impacted the lives of not only Matilda but thousands of injured individuals. Since its inception in 2020 through 2024, the program has provided services to over 109,000 beneficiaries, delivering 298,999 free, high-quality services. Moreover, 10,851 modern prosthetic and orthotic limbs were manufactured and fitted, and 98,612 beneficiaries received rehabilitation services.
According to program statistics, female beneficiaries constituted 33 percent, while males comprised 67 percent. Approximately 24 percent of cases stemmed from pathological injuries, while a significant 76 percent resulted from war injuries, including those caused by mines, war remnants, and unexploded ordnance.
Today, Matilda is no longer the little girl who entered the center confined to a wheelchair. She has transformed into a confident young girl walking independently, her eyes filled with hope as she embraces the future. Matilda’s story is one among countless others that exemplify KSrelief’s commitment to embodying the Kingdom’s message of support for people in need, wherever they may be.