Although our strength is in Pharmacy, Intake (Physical Assessment), and the Medical Clinic, our team joined this mission with open eyes, and willingness to help in any way we can. One of the purposes of this mission is to help fit prosthetics for patients who have loss limbs due to silent land mines from the war, Vehicle accidents, trauma, and diabetes. With little to no formal training, our team of pharmacy students rotate through the prosthetics clinic every few days. The patients here are very resourceful. They make prosthetics from tree trunks, tire rubber, homemade straps etc... Their artificial limb typically weighs about 4-5 Kg. In The United States, a average prosthetic may cost between $4000 to $5000 USD. Our team fits patients with lightweight prosthetics for approximately $200 USD and weigh about 2 Kg. It takes a very talented biomedical engineer's mind and insight to properly fit a prosthetic and our team has experts who can fit almost any case.
It also take hard labotr, cutting, sawing, drilling, measuring, etc... Today we fit an all time record of 37 patients, 1 bilateral for a grand total of 38 limbs. Although my mind is not as mechanically inclined as others, a few of my students have been very successful in assisting with the fittings. There is nothing like seeing the look on the patients face as they walk out (Sometimes run out) of the clinic after an all day fitting with a new, lightweight leg. We are providing a new lease of life!!!
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