Ghanaian engineer makes cheap prosthetic arms from plastic waste

Getting prosthetic arms after amputation can be very costly, especially for the disabled poor.

Since they are mostly imported, the cost could run into thousands of cedis and affected persons become burdens on society.

A senior clinical engineer at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Emmanuel Wireko-Brobby, is tackling this using plastic waste to build prosthetic arms which cost as low as 20 cedis.

For some time now, Engineer Wireko-Brobby has been looking at how to build a prosthetic arm using plastic waste.

“I’ve been thinking about my contribution towards the eradication of plastic waste in the ecosystem and my brothers, the amputees. So I had to bring the two together to see where it fits,” he said.

He started putting together waste plastic bottles and sachets. He then attached a shoulder strap.

The prosthetic hand has been tried on some amputees and has proven to be satisfying.

Engineer Wireko-Brobby is currently carrying out additional tests to improve the innovation, based on patients’ responses.

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