A humanitarian aid team from Glasgow City Council has left for Africa to help build a new Prosthetics and Orthotics Centre.

The centre will be based at Kamuzu Central Hospital and is championed by former Evening Times Scotswoman of the Year Olivia Giles and her 500 Miles Charity. Olivia, a former lawyer, lost her limbs to meningitis.

The 17-strong team, made up of staff from the Lord Provost and International Office, City Building LLP, Access LLP and Glasgow Life, will fly out as part of Lord Provost, Bob Winter’s Malawi Fund, and work on medical and educational projects.

Over 16 days, the City Building team will work in soaring temperatures to erect a new prosthetics and orthotics clinic from timber kits. The clinic will help people with false limbs and who need help with their arms and legs.

The kits are manufactured by Glasgow-based Royal Strathclyde Blindcraft Industries, which is owned by City Building. Two giant containers loaded with the building materials and tools needed to build the clinic have already arrived, and from yesterday, the team began working with local people to construct the new facility which will help manufacture and fit prosthetic limbs.

The World Health Organisation estimates around 60,000 people in Malawi could use prosthetic and orthotic services.

The Lord Provost 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 are 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 Giles said: “It is truly fantastic that the Lord Provost of Glasgow and City Building Glasgow 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 10-man City Building team, made up of joiners, service engineers and electricians, will work in soaring temperatures to construct the building which will help around 40 patients per month.

Alan Burns, 35, of City Building is overseeing the construction of the centre. He said: “The team is really looking forward to the trip. City Building has been involved in Malawi for four years now and we have forged a relationship with the people and the country.

“This will be our third trip, and this year we will be bringing along three of our new trainees.

“It is a great opportunity for them to really make a difference to other communities.

“It will be challenge delivering a project like this in just 16 days but it will be worth the effort.”