“I find joy in supporting people to walk again—supporting them move them from dependency to independence.” 

This is how Oumie, one of The Gambia’s few female prosthetic technicians, describes her work. It’s the power of prosthetics. As a woman with lived experience of limb loss, Oumie is more than just a healthcare worker—she is a role model and an advocate for others in her community.

Oumie’s journey began in childhood when she lost her leg in a car accident. “My cousin told my mother to bring me to the street to beg because I was of no use to society.” But Oumie’s story took a very different path. Oumie as a fully qualified trained prosthetic technician is working to refurbish and fit fellow amputees with high-quality prosthetic limbs, and supporting them throughout their rehabilitation journey. “Now when I see myself walking with two legs and think of those words, I feel proud of myself.”

Oumie received her first fitted prosthetic at our Gambian partner clinic, The National Rehabilitation Clinic. She says, “When I had my first leg made, I could taste the sweetness of it. I thought I’ll never be using crutches again.”

Only between 3rd – 10th December

Advocating for Her Community

Today, as a prosthetic technician with STAND, Oumie is leading the way in ensuring that the needs of women and other marginalised groups are not overlooked in healthcare. 

Oumie’s role at the clinic is not just about fitting prosthetics—it’s about creating inclusive and safe spaces. “When people come here, they think they are nothing, but when they leave with the encouragement of the community, they see there is life after this. They aren’t alone.”

She takes the time to uplift others, even beyond medical care. Having a prosthetic fitted can be a very intimate procedure. “Sometimes I jump with them. I dance. We need to encourage people to see that disability is not inability.” For Oumie, being a part of the centre is more than just a job. “When I am at home, I am often stressed, but when I am at the centre, I feel happy. I see people like me. I am always happy here, Monday to Friday.”

Working in Partnership with Local Rehabilitation Clinics

Through STAND’s Training Scholarship Programme and Rehab Centre Facilities Upgrade interventions in partnerships with the National Rehabilitation Centre in Gambia, Oumie is not only providing crucial services but also challenging long-held stereotypes about disability and gender. Whilst the centre as a whole, is equipped to meet the specialist healthcare demand of the limb loss community.