Advances in prosthetic and orthotic education and training in developing countries: a personal view.

Introduction I am grateful to have the opportunity to follow in the line of those other presenters of the Knud Jansen Lecture all of whom have influenced and helped the field of orthopaedic technology development. It is difficult, however, for me to realise the honour of standing here today. As a child of the last big war in Europe, I became fully conscious of the problems of disability in human beings. My father, who was influenced in the principles of prosthetic technology by Professor Sauerbruch, introduced me in my youth to the problems of the profession. Chance joined in the game when, in 1966 in Tunisia, I met. Professor Mohammed Kassab an orthopaedic surgeon who, with great enthusiasm, wanted to lead his country towards orthopaedic technological independence. His professionalism, his passion and his will led to the formation of an ideal working relationship oriented towards the development of orthopaedic technology. The professional relationship with ISPO, with its far-sighted founders and large number of experienced specialists, contributed greatly to my understanding of the problems of insufficient or non-existent orthopaedic technology facilities in the new African countries. These problems were mostly related to the lack of sensitivity for the process of independent development and the need to turn away from the direct transfer of the technical developments from the European industrial countries to Africa. That is, there was a need to adapt known technologies to local conditions ensuring that they followed valid biomechanical concepts. In addition it was realised that the romanticised transfer of the long outdated European stages of development in orthopaedic technology was not useful in the creation of patient care systems in Africa. This is how the work began which has essentially influenced me ever since.