Jos, Nigeria is a city of approximately 700,000 people. According to statistics generated in Kenya, approximately 1% of the population in that African city has some physical disability. So in a city the size of Jos there are about 7000 disabled. Most support themselves by begging and are often homeless.

There are two government hospitals, two church hospitals and many smaller private clinics in Jos. Although there are several physical therapy programs, there is no affordable and efficient prosthetic program in the city.

In order to meet the demand for orthotic and prosthetic services in Jos, we have examined a variety of approaches and methods used elsewhere in Africa. The Jaipur Method was devised in India and provides a durable, light, inexpensive prosthesis for amputees using PVC pipe and a rubber foot. This method has been exported to a number of African centers including a facility in Nairobi, Kenya and Kano, Nigeria.

Since Gidan Bege (an urban ministry of SIM/ECWA in Nigeria) already has an outreach, Bible study and vocational rehabilitation program with various groups of cripples and disabled in Jos, it seemed helpful  to offer a prosthetics unit.

The Patella Fund in the United States provided a grant of $6000 for setup costs for equipment, furniture and initial supplies for the workshop.

William Ardill, M.D.