Global Partnership and the European Union Launch High-Tech 3D Printing Pilot for Prosthetic Legs in West Africa

Global Partnership and the European Union Launch High-Tech 3D Printing Pilot for Prosthetic Legs in West Africa

Gambian and British charity STAND, alongside the European Union, have launched an innovative pilot project in The Gambia that could revolutionize how prosthetic limbs are manufactured. Prosthetic limbs-artificial replacements for arms or legs - restore mobility, independence, and dignity to individuals who have experienced limb loss. However, millions of amputees across Africa currently live without access to these life-changing devices.

By utilising advanced 3D scanning and printing technology, the initiative provides an easier, faster, and more accurate way to produce prosthetic sockets, the custom component that connects an amputee's residual limb to their prosthetic leg. Traditional manufacturing methods are highly sensitive; a single millimetre of error can cause severe pain, often leading patients to abandon their prostheses. This digital solution eliminates human error, reduces fabrication times, lowers production costs, and removes the need for hazardous chemicals.

The ultimate goal of the project is to create a scalable blueprint for decentralized healthcare. Once the pilot is validated, technicians will be able to scan an amputee's limb on-site in remote, rural villages, transmit the data to a central printing hub, and return to deliver the custom, completed leg directly to the patient's home.

H.E. Imma Roca i Cortés, Ambassador of the EU to The Gambia stated: "The European Union is happy to support this pioneering initiative, which combines innovation, local ownership, and international partnership,". She added: "This project lays the foundation for a more inclusive system, ensuring remote communities can access quality care closer to home."

Tom Williams OBE, founder of STAND, said: "This project not only empowers Gambians to manufacture their own high-quality components, but it also harnesses mobile scanning technology to bring life-changing care directly to rural amputees."

Martin Norman, Deputy High Commissioner at the British High Commission Banjul, said: "Harnessing cutting-edge 3D printing technology presents an opportunity to expand access to high-quality prosthetic care and ensure more people can regain their mobility and independence."

The success of this pilot relies on a dynamic international collaboration:

• The Gambia's National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC): Leading patient selection, fittings, and rehabilitation monitoring.
• Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia (MRCG): Hosting the 3D printers and managing fabrication.
• The European Union: Co-financing the initiative as part of a broader healthcare and regional support programme.
• University of Southampton & 3D Lab Radboud: Providing research oversight, specialized AI-driven software, and technical training.

Notes to Editors

• About the European Union in The Gambia: Funder of a comprehensive regional programme delivering essential rehabilitation, mobility aids, and psychosocial support.
• About STAND: A charity dedicated to ensuring amputees across sub-Saharan Africa access high-quality prosthetic limbs and holistic rehabilitation by refurbishing and delivering components.
• About NRC: A clinical facility operating under The Gambia's Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare, responsible for localized prosthetic care.
• About MRCG: Part of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, leading West African healthcare research and 3D printing implementation.
• About 3D Lab Radboud: A Dutch team specializing in AI-driven CAD software that simplifies prosthetic socket design for low-resource settings.
• About University of Southampton: The 'People Powered Prosthetics' research group provides academic and ethical safety oversight for the pilot.

Media Enquiries: [email protected]