logo
episode-header-image
Oct 28
23m 25s

Helping and healing in Sierra Leone

Bbc World Service
About this episode

Thousands of people in Sierra Leone lost limbs during the brutal civil war, and many more have struggled to overcome the mental as well as physical burdens of the conflict. We visit the Farming on Crutches programme where amputees are trained in agricultural skills which they can use to start their own farms and teach others in their communities their skills. Plus how former addicts are helping others in their communities to stop using kush, a deadly blend of addictive substances that has become a scourge in Sierra Leone and other parts of West Africa.

People Fixing The World from the BBC is about brilliant solutions to the world's problems. We release a new edition every Tuesday. We'd love you to let us know what you think and to hear about your own solutions. You can contact us on WhatsApp by messaging +44 8000 321721 or email peoplefixingtheworld@bbc.co.uk. And please leave us a review on your chosen podcast provider.

Presenter: Myra Anubi Reporter/producer: Sira Thierij Editor: Jon Bithrey Sound mix: Hal Haines

(Image: A trainee farmer rakes grass from a field in Sierra Leone, Sira Thierij/BBC)

Up next
Nov 18
How literacy can change a life
<p>Learning to read empowers people, reduces poverty and increases their job chances. Yet more than 700 miliion adults are illiterate, the majority of them women. We look at innovations to help adults learn how to read from flatpack classrooms in flood-prone regions of Bangladesh ... Show More
23m 31s
Nov 11
Saving seabirds and squirrels
How do you save threatened species? This week we look at two novel solutions. In the UK, scientists are developing a unique contraceptive that will be fed in a nutty spread to grey squirrels, an invasive species that threatens the native red squirrel. And how scientists are movin ... Show More
23m 26s
Nov 4
Making organ donation easier
Organ transplantation has long been seen as a miracle of modern medicine but each year thousands of people across the world die while waiting for this life-saving operation. We’ll find out how one medical technology company based in the UK is cutting wait times for liver transpla ... Show More
23m 19s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2024
Robotics in cardiac surgery: hope or hype?
This month’s episode is hosted by Miia L Lehtinen and Can Gollmann-Tepeköylü, who are joined by Wouter Oosterlinck, exploring his experience and expertise in the field of robotic cardiac surgery. Although already popular amongst thoracic surgeons, Wouter discusses the creation of ... Show More
29m 22s
Jul 2025
Kevin Fong on medical planning for Mars and Earth-based emergencies
There can't be many people in the world who've saved lives in hospital emergency rooms and also helped care for the wellbeing of astronauts in space – but Kevin Fong’s career has followed a singular path: from astrophysics and trauma medicine, to working with NASA, to becoming an ... Show More
28m 39s
Oct 21
Gareth Collett on a career in bomb disposal
Movies might have us believe that bomb disposal comes down to cutting the right wire. In fact, explosive devices are complex and varied - and learning how to dispose of them safely involves intense training, as well as the ability to stay calm under pressure. This was the world o ... Show More
28m 29s
Sep 2023
ACPIC 2023; conference episode
<p>Welcome back to the podcast, coming to you all the way from Australia!</p> <p>Rob and James were fortunate enough to be invited to deliver the keynote and an airway masterclass at this year's Australian College of Paramedicine International Conference.</p> <p>At what was an am ... Show More
18m 11s
Jul 2024
Temporary Pacing in the ICU
In this episode, Dr. Zanotti covers temporary pacing in the ICU. He is joined by Dr. Christopher Noel, a Critical Care Attending at Cooper University Healthcare, and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University. In addition, Dr. Noel is the Asso ... Show More
53m 20s
Mar 2024
Reop Sternotomy - How Many is too Many?
<p>Reop Sternotomy - How Many is too Many? </p> <p>Guest: Joseph A. Dearani, M.D. and Elizabeth H. Stephens, M.D., Ph.D.</p> <p>Hosts: Patricia A. Pellikka, M.D. </p> <p>Reoperations are inevitable for many structural heart lesions, and in some cases, it may be multiple reoper ... Show More
22m 11s
Jun 2022
Ophthalmology in a War Zone
This special episode of Ophthalmology off the Grid was screened during the 2022 MillennialEYE Live meeting in Austin, Texas. Andriy Kovalov, MD, PhD, joined Blake Williamson, MD, MPH, from Kyiv, Ukraine, and discussed how he and his family have supported the civil defense efforts ... Show More
37m 20s
May 2023
Journal Review in Bariatric Surgery: SPLENDID and BRAVES Studies
For our last submission as the BTK Bariatric Surgery Team, we thought we would take a minute to review some recent landmark trials in bariatric surgery. Get caught up on the impact of bariatric surgery on obesogenic cancers and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.  Journal articles: As ... Show More
25m 54s
Apr 2025
Assisted Dying: What might the final moments be like?
We continue our exploration of some of the issues that could crop up if assisted dying becomes law under The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill that is currently working its way through Parliament.Today we consider what those final moments might be like and if the ideal of ... Show More
28m 14s
Apr 2023
Exploring the Future of Implantable Medical Devices
In this episode, Dr. Aaron Carroll talks with Hugh Lee, associate professor of biomedical engineering and director of the Center for Implantable Devices at Purdue University. They discuss how research translates into new implantable medical devices, including a device Lee is work ... Show More
30m 48s