Building mechanical hands for people in need

A local group recently joined in an effort to help low income countries get access to prosthetic devices by building a number of mechanical hands that will be given to people on another continent.

Members of the Olympia Host Lions Club gathered at First Baptist Church in Olympia  on Tuesday, July 28, to build mechanical hands. The hands consisted of 3D printed material, molded plastic and webbing straps.

The hands built in Olympia will be distributed via The Hand Project, an organization that provides prosthetic hands to people from low income countries. 

The prosthetic hands will be shipped to a country in Africa where each one will be fitted to someone who lost their hand due to an accident, violence, limited medical care or disease.

“This is a fantastic service project that directly affects people that need help the most. This is a great service project for us to be involved in,” said Olympia Host Lions Club President George Varela.

Each individual will receive three hands from Olympia Lions: a mechanical hand, a heavy duty manufactured hand that is more of a tool for work like farming or heavy duty work, and a glove-like hand that can be painted to match the recipient’s skin tone.

A custom made sleeve will be fitted to the specific individual getting the hand at a fitting event in the recipient’s country.

“I’m really excited about this project because it can literally change a person’s life. It can give them a way to make a living,” said Camas Lions Club Treasurer Nancy Eubank.

The Camas Lions Club worked with The Hand Project in the past to send mechanical hands to Ethiopia and participated in the event at First Baptist Church.

 According to The Hand Project, “over 2 million people living in low income countries have upper limb amputations/differences. Fewer than 5% of these people have access, or the financial means, to get prosthetic devices.” Through the Hand Project, around 4,000 individuals are fitted with prosthetic hands each year.