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Johan Snyders, CEO and Prosthetist of Icexpress Progressive Prosthetics, is determined to bring the benefits of their specialised prosthetics to amputees in Africa and wherever else this life-changing product is needed.
We are waiting for Mpho - an eight year old girl born without forearms or legs - to arrive at the Icexpress offices at The Innovation Hub in Pretoria, for her physiotherapy appointment with therapist Tarina Coetzee. Mpho received her new Icexpress prosthetic legs at the end of 2008 after a successful fundraising initiative by the executive mayor of the Ekurhuleni Municipality; Ntombi Mekgwe. Mpho is late for her appointment which, as fate would have it, presents us with the opportunity to view a comprehensive DVD presentation about Icexpress – its origin, strategic aim, and innovative product.
What strikes me about the DVD is the image taken of Johan Snyders armed with what looks like a tote-bag amongst a crowd of people in the streets of Pakistan. Johan explains; “It takes 45 minutes to fit the Icexpress prosthetics as apposed to the usual process that may take up to two weeks. Part of our service in remote Africa- and other areas include a mobile clinic and the kit-in-a-bag, (as seen on the presentation), allows us to basically fit an amputee with our prosthetic leg under a tree if the situation requires it.” It is a focus of Icexpress to transfer this technology to local communities where it is most needed. It takes less than one day to train a local technician to fit out prosthetics.
Johan was recruited by the Icexpress head office in Iceland and the founder, Mr. Össur Kristinsson, approached him to “do some good in Africa.” He explains that although they receive funding from various countries and organizations to do work in Palestine, Botswana, Mozambique and other areas where amputees benefit greatly by the mobility, independence and ability to work afforded by the prosthetics, funds are very hard to access in South Africa itself.
“Government Hospitals deal with about 300 amputees at any given time and due to the back log it can take up to two years for patients to be fitted with a prosthetic leg. In our country amputees are younger than, for example, in Europe due to a variety of factors and the demand for prosthetics is most certainly higher,” It is calculated that it would take 1200 years to rid the world of landmines. This emphasises the vital need for innovative prosthetic technology provided as by Icexpress.
When Mpho arrives, she seems a little caught off-guard by the crowd waiting to meet her but, true to all reports I have heard about this young lady, she soon starts to chat about the hardships of constant exercise and the new shoes she received for Christmas. Tarina Coetzee explains that the process of rehabilitation is different for children and that they need to be constantly inspired, and playfully coaxed, while allowing plenty of time for breaks in between.
“Boys and girls also present differences. Where a boy might find the prospect of jumping around on his new legs appealing, a girl (like Mpho) may relish the idea of wearing shoes above all else.”
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