A community-backed rehabilitation facility in opposition-controlled territory in Kachin State has provided free prosthetic limbs to over 400 resistance fighters and civilians maimed in Myanmar’s post-coup conflict.
The Northern Rehabilitation Center for Amputees (NRC), established in August 2023 with support from Medical Family Mandalay (MFM), reached the 400-patient milestone on June 30.
Led by orthopedic specialist Prof. Dr. Khin Maung Lwin, the center operates in territory controlled by the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO).
While based in Kachin State, the center offers free care to all war casualties, regardless of affiliation.
Recipients include members of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), the Arakan Army (AA), local People’s Defense Force (PDF) units like the Kagabu People's Force, and landmine-injured civilians from across Myanmar, including the Sagaing Region.
"The first steps were really difficult," Dr. Khin Maung Lwin said. "We built trust by showing what we could actually do. The people who need prosthetic limbs aren’t only KIA comrades... all the prosthetic support we provide is completely free."
In addition to fitting and repairing limbs—which typically last about five years—the NRC has expanded into a training facility, recently producing six qualified prosthetics technicians sent from various resistance regions.
Operating costs remain a persistent challenge. Raw materials alone cost approximately 1 million MMK ($250 USD) for a below-knee prosthesis and 1.5 million MMK ($375 USD) for an above-knee fitting.
The center relies on donations from individuals, domestic organizations, the KIO, and international support, including from the Japanese government.
Despite current resource constraints limiting services to limb fitting and basic emotional counseling, the NRC aims to expand into a full-scale rehabilitation and vocational center offering computer skills, tailoring, and automotive repair training.
Officials estimate that 200 to 300 additional amputees are currently waiting for care, blocked by active fighting and travel difficulties.
