Lord Provost Bob Winter will join former Scotswoman of the Year Olivia Giles to publicise the return to Malawi in September of a humanitarian team from Glasgow City Council, Access LLP and City Building LLP.

One of the main objectives will be to extend the highly successful Prosthetics and Orthotics Centre founded last year by Olivia Giles and her 500 Miles Charity with the help of the Lord Provost’s and International Office and City Building LLP. The extension kit is being supplied by staff from the RSBi in Springburn.

Demand for treatment at the centre has grown steadily along with demand for prosthetic and orthotic production. The clinic is helping around 40 patients per month.

The group of 13 men and three women will fly out under the auspices of Glasgow Lord Provost, Bob Winter’s Malawi Fund and work on medical and educational projects.

The humanitarian team includes Gillian Walsh from the Lord Provost’s and International Office and Brian Kelly, a former Environmental Health Services Director with the city council who has volunteered his time for this project since its inception 6 years ago.

Among those joining the team for the first time are three City Building apprentices: Ronson Slater (joiner); Paul Brown (electrician’s mate) and Christopher Ryan (roofer).

Mr Winter said: “This project is transforming lives. We and our partners are proud to be part of something so life changing and practical and its success is proof of the benefits of true partnership working.

” Our staff and those from City Building and Access, some of whom will be returning to Malawi, are helping improve the opportunities and life chances of the entire population – young and old. I know the work that has been carried out so far has had a really beneficial impact. They travel with the best wishes of the people of Glasgow.”

Olivia added: “It is truly fantastic that the Lord Provost of Glasgow and City Building Glasgow (LLP) have once again stepped right up to deliver a new larger facility to a higher specification just a short distance away on the same hospital site and to help convert the existing building into an office and dormitories.

“The prosthetic and orthotic service is now well established and word is spreading outside of Lilongwe. The World Health Organisation estimates that 60,000 people in Malawi could use prosthetic and orthotic services so it's time to embark on an outreach programme to encourage more patients to come to the Centre from further afield.”

She explained the extension work would give the orthopaedic technicians much needed extra space. It would also allow 500 Miles to accommodate people who had travelled and needed somewhere to stay in Lilongwe while their devices were being fitted. A process that usually takes a week.”

Olivia added: “Knowing that staff of RSBi based in Springburn are constructing the timber kit that will form the new building is one of the nicest things about this project - that disabled people here in Scotland are being employed in the construction of this new facility which will serve disabled people in Malawi.

Malawi is one of the world’s poorest countries. The Access IT team Sammy Birnie, Maria Quintas Zon, Ian Black and Julie Dalzell will be installing computer equipment in hospitals, schools and libraries as well as monitoring earlier IT installations.

The City Building team will be led by project manager Alan Burns..

The team depart for Malawi on 4th September 2011.

You can donate to the Lord Provost’s Malawi Fund by sending cheques, clearly marked for the fund, to Glasgow City Chambers.

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