Mobile van to train surgeons about arthritis

NEW DELHI - A fully equipped van that will trundle across the northern and western states of India to train orthopaedic students about the new techniques in treating arthritis was flagged off in the capital Friday.

“The van - Zimmer mobile learning center - will go 12,000 km in 120 days covering 53 cities across the western and northern parts of India. Our first stop is at Varanasi where we have tied up with Benaras Hindu University (BHU) and will be giving the paramedical and orthopaedic students training on knee replacement and other related surgeries on arthiritis,” Sanjay Lohani, marketing director of Zimmer India Pvt Ltd, told IANS Friday.

Judy Reinke, counselor for commercial affairs, US embassy in India, flagged off the van.

The van has a knee replacement set-up specifally designed for women apart from hip replacement, trauma and spinal surgery products.

“Since it’s the first of its kind, educating about its functions and uses to the young lot is one of our aims,” Lohani said.

Apart from training the medical students, the van will conduct community seminars to increase awareness among the general public by roping in various resident welfare associations and clubs.

The Mobile Learning Center houses a complete self-supporting training/educational facility who conduct hands-on training and educational programs for surgeons and resident doctors in addition to community seminars on arthritis and its related surgeries.