Possible ways to get footwear
• Contact a leprosy hospital with a footwear
workshop. They can make sandals if you
send a tracing of the foot.
LEPROSY 225
• Check the market. You may find
a canvas shoe or tennis shoe
that already has a good insole.
• Or you can put soft insoles into the shoes.
But CAUTION: If you put an insole that is
thick into a standard shoe, there may not be
enough room for the toes—unless you cut
out the part over the toes and leave them open.
An insole
that is thick
may work if
the foot is
already short.
soft insole
• Make (or have a local shoemaker make) special footwear.
For the inner sole,
you can use a soft,
sponge sandal or
‘thong’. Or buy
‘microcell’ rubber,
which is soft but
firm.
For the under-sole
you can use a piece
of old car tire.
• For persons who have
developed sores on their
foot here,
a bar here or a foot support here
may help take pressure off the ball
of the foot and prevent new sores.
• A very helpful lining for preventing sores is
a soft, heat-moldable foam plastic called
‘Plastazote’. For instructions on making
footwear with Plastazote, see Insensitive
Feet on p. 638.
• For persons with a ‘drop’ foot, a brace or ‘lift’ can help prevent sores and injuries.
You can get a brace or support at
a rehabilitation workshop, or make
a specially-fitted, well-padded
plastic brace (see Chapter 58).
Or make a
simple device
to hold the
foot up.
disabled village children