UAE Helping Hands: Father of five needs prosthetic leg to work and earn for family

Wasim Khan, 47, is from Kolkata and works as a salesman in Dubai, earning Dh1,200 a month. He contracted polio at two years old and has been using a prosthetic right leg ever since.

Kolkata native Wasim Khan earns Dh1,200 a month as a salesman in Dubai and needs a prosthetic leg to keep working so he can support his five children. Anna Nielsen for The National

DUBAI // An Indian father of five is seeking help to buy a new prosthetic leg to continue his work and provide for his family.

Kolkata native Wasim Khan earns Dh1,200 a month as a salesman in Dubai.

When he was 2, he contracted polio and has been using a prosthetic leg for his right limb since. “I depend 100 per cent on my legs. I can’t work without my legs,” said the 47-year-old, whose children are between 5 and 19.

“They are all in India and their school fees are very expensive. My family is poor and I am their sole breadwinner,” he said.

Mr Khan’s current prosthetic leg is more than a year old and the signs of wear and tear are evident.

“They have to be changed every year. Good quality ones last longer but are more expensive, although I am grateful for whatever I get,” he said.

Charities had helped Mr Khan to get prosthetic legs when he could not afford to buy them.

“I get help from charities in India and sometimes I buy them, but charities here will not help and I can’t afford to go back home and get one from there,” he said.

A new prosthetic leg of quality costs Dh42,000 while one of a lesser quality costs Dh20,000.

“How can I afford it? I have no health insurance and my salary can’t cover this,” Mr Khan said.

Hisham Al Zahrani, manager of social services at Dar Al Ber Society, called on the public to help Mr Khan.

“A prosthetic leg is too expensive for Wasim, and his livelihood depends on it. His current prosthetic will soon fall apart and Wasim will not be able to work to support himself and his family,” he said.