New Rehabilitation Centre Brings Prosthetic Care Closer to Rural Gambian Communities
By Charities Correspondent
UK prosthetics charity STAND has opened a new rehabilitation centre in The Gambia, bringing vital prosthetic and rehabilitation services closer to amputees living in rural communities.
The new facility represents a major step forward in improving access to prosthetic legs and ongoing care.
STAND supplies refurbished prosthetic limbs donated from around the world, and the centre’s central location allows rural patients to receive fittings, adjustments and rehabilitation without travelling long distances to the capital.
Before the centre was established, many amputees faced journeys of hundreds of miles to access services, as the country’s main rehabilitation facility is based in the capital city.
While STAND previously funded outreach programmes that travelled to rural towns, the charity recognised that this model was not sustainable long term.
The project has been delivered through close partnership with The Gambia’s Ministry of Health, with financial backing from key supporters including The British School of Paris. Organisers say the collaboration reflects a shared international commitment to strengthening prosthetic care and long-term rehabilitation services.
The opening ceremony was attended by STAND Trustee Lucy Gates, The Gambia’s Director of the Department of Social Welfare Allaye Barra, members of the Gambian press, STAND’s local staff and members of the community.
Tom Williams OBE, founder of STAND, said:
“This centre brings prosthetic and rehabilitation services within reach of people who have been excluded for too long. Distance should never determine who gets to walk again. When mobility is restored, the barriers that once limited amputees begin to disappear, opening the door to walking, working, and truly thriving.”
Giles Bates, Head of Community and Service at The British School of Paris, added:
“A prosthetic limb can give a child an education, friends and a future filled with hope. We hope that the BSP's contribution towards STAND's new rehabilitation centre in Bansang in The Gambia will help make this a reality for the local community.”
The new centre is expected to significantly improve the quality, consistency and reach of prosthetic services for amputees across rural regions of The Gambia.
