The Saint Damien hospital in Haiti receives
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“Father Richard Frechette, who manages the St Damien Hospital, contacted us to equip the orthopaedic workshop at their new school for handicapped children”, comments Luc Boronat, CPO and manager of Rodin4D, a company specialised in CAD/CAM for orthopaedics. “The aim of this operation, financed by donations to the Francesca Rava Foundations, was to equip this new workshop with a complete CAD/CAM system for orthopaedics, i.e. a system including a 3D scanner, digital rectification software and a milling machine. We decided to play an active part in this operation by providing our expertise and proposing our system at cost price".
“In the beginning, it seemed strange to provide such a modern system for use in such poor conditions, but once there it became much more meaningful" continues Luc Boronat. “There are very few specialists to provide care, and their needs are vast”
The system arrived in Haiti the day after Hurricane Thomas hit Haiti and at the time when the first cases of cholera were reported at Port au Prince. Once custom difficulties were overcome, the installation was trouble free thanks to the help from the Italian Civil Protection who provided, in particular, a 380 Volts electric generator to operate the system.
When everything was ready, two ortho-prosthetists on site, Marco Avaro and Luc Boronat started to make the first scoliosis braces. Using CAD/CAM, in less than one week they alone made around 25 devices intended for children and young teenagers.
Today, the system is operational and the association employs an ortho-prosthetist full-time. However, the “Kay St Germain” is very short of materials and, in particular, the foam blocks to be milled by the machine.
About the Francesca Rava Foundation
The Francesca Rava Foundation - N.P.H., based in Italy, is a non-profit organisation involved in humanitarian activities aimed at alleviating the suffering of children and teenagers in the poorest companies throughout the world. Deeply involved in Haiti, it manages the Saint Damien Children’s Hospital, under the guidance of Father Richard Frechette. For more information, please visit: http://www.nphitalia.org/
About Rodin4D
Rodin4D is a CAD/CAM system for orthopaedics. It provides the elements required to design and manufacture orthoses, prostheses and braces using a 3D scanner, digital rectification software and a machine tool. Based in France, near Bordeaux, Rodin4D has distributors located worldwide.