Leaders from Prosthetic and Orthotic (PO) Schools in Southeast and South Asia are meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia from 2-4 December, a period which includes the International Day for People with Disabilities on 3rd December.

PO schools provide an essential service for people with physical disabilities by training PO clinicians and technicians to assess patients and make, fit, repair and replace prosthetic and orthotic devices like artificial limbs, leg braces and spinal braces.

PO services treat men, women and children with a wide range of conditions, including amputation, scoliosis, cerebral palsy, polio, diabetes and many other conditions.

PO patients often require lifelong support which can only be provided by trained professionals and PO Schools have an essential in supporting people with disabilities, by restoring mobility and enabling patients to have an independent life and contribute to society as employees, taxpayers and active community members.

The PO Educators meeting in Phnom Penh is being attended by schools from Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, the Philippines and Thailand and their aim is to work together more closely, to grow the PO profession and support many more people with disabilities.