The brutal civil war that ravaged Sierra Leone for over a decade left hundreds of innocent civilians with life-altering injuries and disabilities.
While restorative physical aid programs involving 3D printing capabilities exist, they often rely on remote design and transportation, with added time and
costs limiting their effectiveness.
Lars Brouwers, a surgical resident at Radboud University Medical Center in Nijmegen, and a doctor at Elisabeth-Tweesteden Hospital in the Netherlands, believed
there had to be a better way to provide support.
Providing Faster, More Cost-Effective Aid
Having previously worked on a project involving 3D printing anatomical models at Elisabeth-Tweesteden Hospital, Lars Brouwers' wish was to help create
"very cheap prosthetics that everyone can afford, and quickly." The best solution he envisioned was to bring the technology to Sierra Leone, providing
the local people with the necessary knowledge and materials.
"We can't just put a 3D printer there; we want to start a project that can be sustained."
To achieve this clear goal, Brouwers began his journey by developing an effective, natural prosthetic design that could be easily 3D printed.
With a fully assembled Ultimaker 2+ and enough materials to last a year, he and his colleague, Dr. Wouter Nolet, embarked on a three-week road trip,
starting from the Netherlands, passing through Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal, and Guinea, and ending at the Lion Heart Medical Center in Sierra Leone,
providing knowledge and skills to affected locals.
Lars Brouwers earned his doctorate at Elisabeth-Tweesteden Hospital in the Netherlands while working on 3D printing.
Arrival in Sierra Leone
When Brouwers and Nolet arrived at the Lion Heart Medical Center, the local prosthetic engineers reacted very positively to the new 3D printing technology when they saw the equipment.
The locals were excited about the opportunity to train and use it, as they had previously been making prosthetics by hand.
The process of 3D printing prosthetics can produce accurate and consistent results with less labor.
The unrest in Sierra Leone has damaged the country's infrastructure, leading to frequent power outages. The Ultimaker 2+ needs to be installed in a place with continuous power supply.
The clinic has installed a special uninterrupted solar power supply to guard against any power failures, which is where the printer was temporarily placed.
The enthusiasm and dedication of the local prosthetic specialists meant that driving over 60 kilometers daily on small motorcycles to reach the clinic was not an issue. However, after some time,
it became clear that a more convenient location was needed.
Brouwers and Nolet are currently working to overcome this challenge by establishing a mobile solar power system that can provide power to the printer,
allowing it to be located in a more central position.
More Than Just Making Prosthetics
The Ultimaker 2+ was also found to be useful for creating other affordable prosthetic devices. Important tools, such as umbilical cord clamps, which previously took high costs and time to transport
by ship, can now be printed on-site and on demand, often in time-sensitive situations.
Furthermore, Brouwers and Nolet found added value in printing anatomical models for teaching purposes. They printed thoracic vertebrae to teach medical personnel how to perform spinal anesthesia.
Brouwers reported that they are seeking more opportunities to provide anatomical models.
Bridging the Global Gap
With the seeds of innovation planted, and all the necessary tools and training for local residents to continue rebuilding, Brouwers returned to the Netherlands. Brouwers said the
trip was "a real adventure, very special." "Having the opportunity to see the true face of the African continent" and "...to meet good people around the world"
were also some of the highlights of the trip.
As part of his medical training, Nolet stayed in Sierra Leone. He, the local team, Brouwers, and the 3D lab at Radboud University Medical Center
were able to stay in touch via email and Whatsapp to help with the transition and adoption of the technology.
Local experts can send photos of any necessary parts they need, which Brouwers and the 3D lab can digitize and send the designs back to
Sierra Leone for local printing. However, the main goal of this project is to empower local residents and enable them to be self-sufficient, avoiding constant remote support.
Brouwers and Nolet anticipate this process will still take several years.
"This project will ultimately be in their hands. To achieve its goal, it must fully embrace the local role. As long as they need us, we will be there,
no matter how long it takes."
Brouwers and Nolet have been nominated for the Albert Schweitzer Award 2018. For more information, you can find Lars Brouwers on Twitter.
Original link:https://ultimaker.com/en/blog/52541-empowering-locals-in-sierra-leone-with-ultimaker-3d-printers