In a breakthrough for amputees in Africa, Nigerian brothers Ubokobong and John Amanam have developed innovative prosthetic limbs that closely resemble the users' natural body parts. The brothers' company, Immortal Cosmetic Art, has been at the forefront of creating lifelike prosthetics for amputees across the continent. Their journey began when Ubokobong was badly injured in a firework accident seven years ago, leaving him without fingers. The prosthetics available at the time were poorly fitted and designed for bodies unlike his.
The brothers' mission is to make prosthetic limbs more accessible to Nigerians and other Africans. According to unofficial estimates, up to 2 million people in Nigeria need prosthetic limbs, but high costs and a lack of availability have made it difficult for them to access these devices. Imported prosthetics can cost as much as $3,000, a price that many Africans cannot afford.
The brothers' innovative approach has led to the development of bionic prosthetics that use electromyography to read muscle signals, allowing users to control movement. Each bionic limb costs about $7,000, which is cheaper than many western options but still unaffordable for most Africans. The brothers have been working to raise backing from governments and NGOs to make the technologies accessible.
The brothers' company has already provided free prosthetics to more than 10 clients, including 30-year-old Emediong Bassey, who lost her lower right leg in a motor accident in 2010. Bassey's prosthetic was designed to match her skin tone and shape, making it almost indistinguishable from her natural leg.
The global prosthetics gap reflects a larger issue of underinvestment in assistive technology, according to Dr Na tasha Layton, an occupational therapist and associate professor at Monash University in Australia. She argues that governments and international bodies have prioritised acute healthcare over long-term support, leaving many people unable to fully regain their independence.
The Amanam brothers' innovative prosthetic limbs are a testament to the potential of locally built technologies to improve lives. However, the gap between innovation and access remains wide, a global inequality that needs to be addressed through policy changes and increased investment in assistive technology. The brothers' success highlights the need for more affordable and accessible prosthetic options, particularly for low- and middle-income countries.
