An innovation to find a simple and cheaper way to provide prosthetic limbs for amputees, especially those roaming our streets and soliciting for arms could also become part of the country’s solution to the plastic waste problem.
Ing. Emmanuel Wireko-Brobby, a Senior Clinical Engineering Manager at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, has developed prosthetic limbs from plastic waste by re-chanelling plastic bottles to useful product.
The innovation is not only putting smiles on the faces of amputees who are benefiting through the replacement of their lost limbs, but will also reduce plastic bottles that choke drainage systems and water bodies.
Ing. Wireko-Brobby, who is the Head of Electrical Engineering department of KATH, told The Chronicle in a telephone interview that he needs support from government, corporate organisations and health oriented Non-profit Organisations (NGOs) so as to go into commercial production.
He said as an engineer, he owed it as a duty to contribute his quota to improving society and finding innovative ways to turn plastic bottles into prosthetic limbs was one of the contributions to the advancement of society.
Some amputees, according to him, have already benefited from this innovation at no cost and explained that the beneficiaries were excited because the weight of the artificial limbs are not very heavy, which makes it easier for the user to move about freely and do their normal daily activities.
Ing. Wireko-Brobby, who has won several awards and received numerous citations, has also produced a Leg Crutch, Radiant Warmer/Phototherapy device, X-ray film viewer, Wheelchair, Water purity tester, Infants bed, Drip stand and Theatre lamp among others.
From Thomas Agbenyegah Adzey
