In Another World, You Are An Illegal Refugee With Nothing To Your Name

note: Duane Nelson is blogging from the Mae Tao Clinic in Mae Sot, Thailand where Clear Path funds a prosthetic clinic for landmine survivors. The post below was sent in by him today.

This week I had the opportunity to see the contrast between two worlds that literally rub shoulders yet are essential separated by a great chasm. In one world, you are a citizen and have access to free healthcare and sanitation and technology, in the other world, you are an illegal refugee with nothing to your name.

The Mae Toa Clinic on the Thai-Burma border is founded and run by refugees. The prosthetics department manager is an astounding and committed man. He does not make money and will never be able to buy his family a truck, or a home, or a vacation. His workshop lacks government funding and only survives by donation and outside funds. His shop is built on rented land and therefore lacks stability and his limited budget doesn�t allow for expensive tools. They make do with their space and use what they have. They have no specific prosthetics grinding machines, no specialty tools, no ventilation extraction for harmful chemicals and dust, no glass windows, no waiting room, no casting room, no privacy for patients.





Despite these lacking luxuries they are a very productive shop effectively fabricating 200 prostheses per year free of charge, and training 10 new prosthetists in that same time.

Approximately 3km away there is another prosthetics work shop� at the Mae Sot Municipal Hospital. This is a Thai government funded facility. The manager here parks his beautiful new 4X4 out front and steps into his immaculate and polished lab. All the most specialized, advanced and brand name equipment line the walls. There is a ventilated grinding room, an outfitted casting room, a well stocked storage room, and a huge personal office with a solid wood desk, computer, and phone. This is a fantastic place to work for the manager; he�s got it made, life is good. Everything is funded by the government and the advanced prostheses are provided free of charge to Thai citizens. The only problem is, there is no work�he sits around all day� approximately only 50 prosthesis are made here in a year� because there is no need.


Unless of course, he could welcome landmine survivor refugees into his clinic. On his geographic doorstep lies one of the greatest volumes of prosthetic need in the world. But, he is forced to charge refugees up to 20,000 baht for a leg when most of them are lucky if they can afford a bag of rice.


Its kinda warped, this contrast of worlds. The ability to meet the needs in a greater way is right here, 3km away. I guess it�s the same question of "why do people still starve in today�s world when we all know there is plenty of food to go around?".