Haitian Amputees — Lessons Learned from Sierra Leone

More than a month after the recent earthquake, the Haitian government reported that 6000 to 8000 people had lost limbs or digits, but they did not address the bigger question: What's the plan for these amputees?1 Nearly a decade ago, Sierra Leone emerged from war and faced the problem of providing health care to the many civilians who had undergone amputations. In my view, Sierra Leone's history with amputees teaches three lessons: amputees and their dependents have the right to free, lifelong health care, government cannot afford to bear this immediate responsibility, and medical facilities are central to coordinating comprehensive . . .