Progress Update from Cambodia!

We are excited to give you an update from our first visit to this beautiful country! Josh and Angie from the Victoria Hand Project team are on the ground working with our Cambodian partners ARC Hub PNH and Siem Reap Physical Rehabilitation Center. Cambodia is rich in culture and the locals have given us a warm welcome. Three upper-limb amputees have received the prosthesis systems so far and we have trained our partners to print, assemble and fit the hand for patients. Twenty-two more amputees will be receiving Victoria Hands over the next 6 months thanks to the generous support of Grand Challenges Canada.

The amputees we have fit so far have never used a mechanical hand of any sort. Most commonly provided here are cosmetic hands which are used for aesthetic reasons only. Seeing the amputees use a prosthetic hand to wash dishes, write or grab small objects for the first time is priceless. The smiles on their faces when they complete a task independently that they haven’t in a long time, if ever, is our encouragement to keep working to deliver more systems and reach more amputees in need.

Cambodia has the most amputees per capita worldwide and the need for prosthesis is great. The tragic history of warfare here has resulted in many amputations, due to injury from unexploded ordinates (UXOs). This, sadly, is the leading cause of amputation for the majority of the 25 amputees being helped. We hope that with this new prosthesis and added functionality, these amputees can be empowered in their personal and professional lives.

Thanks for following our progress! Please consider making a donation to help more amputees in need, and DONATE HERE. If you would like to learn more about our prosthesis system, CLICK HERE.

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