The Karuna Foundation Nepal, an organization working for the welfare of persons with disabilities, is going to distribute artificial hands to 428 people across the country.

The Foundation, in a statement it issued today, said that the distribution of free artificial hands will be started from Koshi Province in the first phase under the support campaign conducted in collaboration with the German Hands Project. 

Foundation's Associate Director Dinesh Dhakal said that the program will be held in Itahari, Koshi Province from November 3 to 12 and 204 people will be provided with artificial hands free of charge.

Recently, a notice was published calling for applications from people who were in need of artificial hands and it was reported that 428 people nationwide were registered. It is stated that beneficiaries from Koshi Province were prioritised in the first phase.

The Foundation has reported that among such beneficiaries, 10 are from Bhojpur, three from Ilam, 61 from Jhapa, 25 from Khotang, 14 from Morang, 19 from Okhaldhunga, 22 from Panchthar, eight from Solukhumbu, eight from Sunsari, two from Tehrathum, and 25 from Udaypur.

It is believed that this campaign will help individuals who have lost limbs regain self-confidence and return to an independent life.

According to the Foundation, the number of people losing their hands each year due to accidents, electric shocks, infections or other reasons is increasing in Nepal, and currently more than 50,000 people across the country are using various types of prosthetic limbs.