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In the Kurdistan Region, where the devastating legacy of conflict and the realities of modern life have profoundly altered countless lives, advanced prosthetic technology is restoring hope and mobility for those who have suffered limb loss.
According to a report from Kurdistan24 correspondent Nian Barzan, a combination of skilled craftsmanship, modern technology, and growing local expertise is offering a crucial lifeline to amputees, allowing them to reclaim their daily lives from experiences that would otherwise be permanently debilitating.
For a person who has spent their life relying on agriculture and manual labor, losing a leg is a cruel and devastating experience. This was the reality for Hiwa Omar, a person with disabilities who shared his painful story with Kurdistan24. "We went to the mountains with relatives and friends and took a break on the way," he recounted.
"About 10 meters from where we were sitting, a landmine exploded at my feet, and I lost my leg instantly." His story, however, is also a testament to resilience and the power of medical intervention. "Thank God, after being fitted with a prosthetic leg, I was able to get my life back," Omar said. "Maybe not as I was before, but I can now go about my daily life with ease."
The field of prosthetics is one where technical knowledge must be paired with a deep sense of artistry and care. As Nian Barzan’s report highlights, there is a common saying in the world of prosthetics: "Art, skill, and precision come before scientific knowledge."
This philosophy underscores that creating a functional and comfortable artificial limb is a craft that combines "sense and hand," where the utmost importance lies in the finest details. Every prosthetist strives to provide the greatest possible mobility and comfort for the user, with the ultimate goal of enabling them to live their life as normally as possible.
Rawaz Rizgar, a specialist in Prosthetics and Orthotics, explained that the need for these services stems from a range of causes. Most of the cases they deal with are due to complications from diabetes, traffic accidents, or injuries resulting from wars and explosions.
While managing expectations is a critical part of the process, the potential for recovery is significant. "We can't say that we will restore the leg to how it was," Rizgar stated, "but we can support the patient and help them so they can carry out their daily life, and even play sports, swim, or run, as we provide all types of prosthetic limbs."
A significant development is bolstering the future of this field within the Kurdistan Region.
The year 2020 saw the establishment of the Department of Prosthetics at Erbil Polytechnic University, located within the College of Health and Medical Technologies. In a major achievement, this department has received international certification from the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO).
This recognition is considered an important step towards developing and standardizing the field locally, ensuring that the next generation of specialists in the Kurdistan Region is trained to a global standard.
Kurdistan24's correspondent Nian Barzan contributed to this report.
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