£50k funding boost for Salford research transforming care for people with limb loss in Uganda

The Medical Research Foundation has awarded £50,122 to a pioneering project led by Professor Louise Ackers at the University of Salford, which is set to revolutionise the rehabilitation process for people living with limb loss in Uganda.

The project will not only provide much-needed support for amputees, creating sustainable local healthcare solutions, but also aims to reduce the number of amputations needed in future through preventative programmes.

In Uganda, an increasing number of people each year experience life-changing amputations, with road traffic accidents and diabetes two of the leading causes. Yet there is a stark lack of support for people living with limb loss in the country. Many amputees are reliant on foreign aid for vital medical devices such as prosthetics, to replace missing limbs, or orthotics, like braces, splints or insoles.

Building on their previous research funded by the Medical Research Council, this Medical Research Foundation project led by Professor Louise Ackers (University of Salford) and Dr Raymond Tweheyo at Makerere University will support the implementation of Uganda’s first National Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Strategic Plan.

They aim to support the development of a Community Based Rehabilitation approach extending services to hard-to-reach communities in order to improves the lives and livelihoods of as many people with major limb loss or damage as possible. Alongside this the team are pioneering ways of integrating preventive interventions notably around diabetes and hypertension to reduce amputation risk.

Throughout the project, they will hold events to engage amputees with lived experience and gather their valuable insights.

Professor Louise Ackers said: “This project is about creating lasting change. Building on our previous work, we will co-develop the implementation tools needed to ensure amputees in Uganda have long-term access to sustainable local care. We are also pioneering preventive measures, that will help reduce future generations’ risk of limb loss.”