F4P: Fit for Purpose Kicks Off!

A scoping study on the provision of BP UL prostheses and manufacturing capabilities was done in Uganda and Jordan in 2018. This work was performed by representatives from Makerere University, University of Jordan, ICRC, GDI Hub, University College London, University of Southampton and University of Salford.

Ugandan prostheses rehabilitation services were found to be fragmented, underfunded, under-resourced and heavily reliant on donations. Jordanian rehabilitation services are fragmented, need capacity building and they have access to resources but at a very high cost due to import duties. Prostheses for refugees are mostly done by organisations like MSF and focusing mostly on lower limb. Body powered (BP) upper limb (UL) prostheses for adults are very expensive, difficult to obtain and very often difficult to use. Patients in Uganda and Jordan need to travel long distances to the nearest health centre. Demand for upper limb prosthesis in Uganda is due to traffic accidents and violence while in Jordan it is due to congenital limb absence, traffic accidents and trauma due to conflicts in neighbouring countries. Jordan has recorded over 650k Syrian refugees since 2011 and their access to healthcare is very limited. Electrically powered prostheses are not suitable for these countries where maintenance and a high cost are major challenges.

Uganda has a potential manufacturing capability but Jordan not so much. Prostheses users in both countries agreed they need affordable and appropriate prostheses and a network for knowledge share would help them create belonging to a community. Researchers from the network will work to innovate an upper limb prosthesis. Its design will be user centred and its fabrication sustainable.