Making prostheses from can tabs

NST: The next time you flip open a can for a drink, think of those who need artificial legs to move about.
What have the tabs got to do with prosthetic legs? Plenty. A kilogramme of canned drink tabs can be used to make joints for three artificial legs.
The Prosthesis Foundation of Thailand is proof that this can not only be done but that the artificial legs are sturdy too. It has been using tabs and other recyclable stuff to make artificial legs for the last 13 years.
The foundation has so far produced 16,000 legs for the disabled in Thailand and close to 400 legs for those in need in Malaysia.
The man behind the idea is Associate Prof Dr Therdchai Jivacate, who realised there were poor amputees in his hometown of Chiang Mai who could not afford prosthesis equipment sold at hospitals or private companies.
The orthopaedic surgeon attached to Chiang Mai University experimented with material that could be re-used when he made his first artificial leg 38 years ago.
"I used to come across so many people who needed to have their limbs removed due to accidents. After losing their limbs, they made limbs out of bamboo and plastic bottles so that they could move about.
"These simple artificial legs did not fit properly so I decided to make some for them. I gave them out for free and eventually the Prosthesis Foundation was set up under the patronage of the late Princess Mother," he said.
The foundation depends on donations in the form of canned drink tabs, other reusable items and funding in order to continue providing artificial legs for free.
In Malaysia, the foundation is working closely with the Girl Guides Association to obtain its supply of tabs through the "Lids for Legs" programme.
The Sabah branch has collected more than 260kg of lids through booths it has set up in strategic locations, while several States have also done their bit for the foundation.
Dr Therdchai said in Malaysia, 205 artificial legs were fitted on amputees in Alor Star and another 170 were given to the disabled in Kluang in the last two years.
He said each leg was custom-made to fit its user and that if proper care was taken, it could last a lifetime.
It costs about RM150 to produce a limb for below the knee compared to RM600 at a government hospital in Thailand. A whole leg only costs about RM250 at the foundation.
Datuk Chua Soon Booi of the Sabah Girl Guides said the association would continue to collect lids.