A NEW WAY OF TRAVELLING

 Students from Swansea University Medical School take prosthetic limbs to Africa

Swansea (UK): In October 2018, a group of students travelling to The Gambia contacted Legs4Africa (L4A) because they realised they could contribute to Legs4Africa’s Deliver a Leg campaign. Deliver a Leg aims to utilise travellers who are already venturing to countries that Legs4Africa works in. Thus, L4A asks them to use some of their luggage allowance to transport much needed equipment to its partner mobility centers.

These students used their baggage allowance to take prosthetic limbs and equipment to the National Mobility Centre in Banjul Hospital (Gambia). They brought 50kgs of legs and arm equipment with them (10 of them with 5kgs each) andthey took the prosthetics on charity luggage, provided free of charge by the airline (Thomas Cook Airlines).Through Legs4Africa, they got in contact with the head prosthetists in Banjul Hospital, who sent a member of his team to their hotel to pick up the limbs.

The whole process could not have been easier. The students were also invited to the Mobility Centre, the only prosthetic limbs centre in The Gambia, where 15% of the population is disabled. They shared stories with this small team who is passionate about giving patients with disabilities freedom, independence and a better quality of life.

Both Legs4Africa and the Swansea-Gambia Link were enriched by this experience, which is a good example  to demonstrate how people can be involved, travel and also have amazing stories to share.

Significant quote: “Delivering prosthetic arms for Legs4Africa has been the most selfless, rewarding experience we have ever had!” – Ana Springall De Pablo (Swansea-Gambia Link)

 About Legs4Africa (L4A): L4A are the Bristol based charity that gets people walking again in Africa. Through recycling prosthetic legs that would otherwise end up in landfill and setting up amputee support groups we are helping thousands of people a year to get back on their feet (https://www.legs4africa.org/)

About Swansea-Gambia Link (SGL): SGL are the Swansea University Medical School society. SGL fundraises money to bring four medical students from The Gambia to carry out a two week hospital placement in Wales, and then sends two groups of Swansea Students to spend a two week placement in Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (http://sgl.swanih.org/)