Innovative Practice 2018 on Accessibility
Providing free adaptations and prosthetics for amputees and persons with mobility issues
| Name of Innovative Practice: | Providing free adaptations and prosthetics for amputees and persons with mobility issues |
|---|---|
| Organisation: | Jaipur Foot Organization – BMVSS |
| Country of Implementation | India |
PROBLEMS TARGETED
Persons with physical disabilities in the rural areas of low-income countries are often unable to access assistive aids either because they cannot travel to a hospital, which are mostly found in cities, or because they cannot afford the expensive assistive solutions.
SOLUTION, INNOVATION, AND IMPACT
The Jaipur Foot Organization identifies persons with mobility problems, with particular focus on poor amputees from rural areas. The organization provides a variety of assistance, such as artificial limbs, calipers, wheelchairs, and tricycles – all free of charge and delivered directly to the user. In addition, the organization holds over 50 field 
camps per year in India and around the world, whereby doctors and technicians travel with equipment and materials to provide on-the-spot fabrication and the fitting of prosthetic limbs and other aids to persons who may otherwise be unable to access help.
The organization has also designed its own prosthetic limbs, including the “Jaipur Foot” and the “Jaipur Knee” – hailed by Time magazine as one of the 50 best inventions for the world in 2009). These are affordable, high-performance, and robust alternatives to expensive assistive aids previously in use. The Jaipur Foot is an inexpensive, water-resistant, and quick to fit below-knee prosthetic. The Jaipur Knee is a nylon artificial knee joint developed in partnership with Stanford University that mimics the normal human walking pattern. Between 50,000 and 75,000 supportive aids are fitted or provided each year to persons with mobility problems.
camps per year in India and around the world, whereby doctors and technicians travel with equipment and materials to provide on-the-spot fabrication and the fitting of prosthetic limbs and other aids to persons who may otherwise be unable to access help.The organization has also designed its own prosthetic limbs, including the “Jaipur Foot” and the “Jaipur Knee” – hailed by Time magazine as one of the 50 best inventions for the world in 2009). These are affordable, high-performance, and robust alternatives to expensive assistive aids previously in use. The Jaipur Foot is an inexpensive, water-resistant, and quick to fit below-knee prosthetic. The Jaipur Knee is a nylon artificial knee joint developed in partnership with Stanford University that mimics the normal human walking pattern. Between 50,000 and 75,000 supportive aids are fitted or provided each year to persons with mobility problems.
OUTLOOK, TRANSFERABILITY AND FUNDING
Since its start in India, the organization now has facilities in Afghanistan, Colombia, Fiji, Mauritius, Pakistan, and
the Philippines. In addition, Jaipur Foot has set up independent artificial limb fitting centres in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
Jaipur Foot is a non-profit organization funded largely by donations from private companies, banks, and individuals, plus funding from the Indian Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment under the ADIP Scheme (Assistance to Disabled Persons for the Purchase and Fitting of Aids and Appliances), which aims to assist persons with disabilities in procuring appropriate modern aids and appliances to assist their physical, social, and psychological well-being.
the Philippines. In addition, Jaipur Foot has set up independent artificial limb fitting centres in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.Jaipur Foot is a non-profit organization funded largely by donations from private companies, banks, and individuals, plus funding from the Indian Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment under the ADIP Scheme (Assistance to Disabled Persons for the Purchase and Fitting of Aids and Appliances), which aims to assist persons with disabilities in procuring appropriate modern aids and appliances to assist their physical, social, and psychological well-being.
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