Re-imagining Support for Amputees: Restoring Hope Team Visits AUIS to Explore Innovative Solutions

The American University of Iraq, Sulaimani (AUIS) recently welcomed the Restoring Hope team, an initiative redefining amputee support by bringing rapid, high-quality prosthetic solutions directly to patients in need. Restoring Hope is an initiative of His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan in response to the challenge facing amputees in Gaza. This Jordanian Initiative is seeking to share its insights across the region, and also learn from the experience of other countries to ensure the initiative helps build an inclusive society and that these support services are  sustainable in the long term. The team’s visit highlighted the urgent need for collaboration across the conflict-affected regions and in particular with AUIS to advance research and implementation in Kurdistan and beyond. The workshop took place from March 9th to March 11th.

A Global Crisis and a Local Need
Globally, an estimated 100 million amputees face mobility challenges, with only a fraction accessing adequate prosthetic services. The crisis is even more severe in conflict zones, where healthcare infrastructure is strained, leaving many without essential support. Kurdistan, like other post-conflict regions, has seen an increasing demand for prosthetic care, particularly for landmine victims, children requiring inclusive education, and adults seeking economic independence.

The  Model: A Game-Changer in Prosthetic Care
Unlike traditional prosthetic services that require multiple clinic visits and specialized facilities, Restoring Hope is using Mobile Amputee Support Units (MASU) to bring support directly to patients, overcoming many traditional access barriers. This innovative approach developed in response to the health crisis in Gaza is already making an impact: 

  • Rapid impact:  Prosthetic fittings within hours and immediate mobility improvements.
  • Integrated use of Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) from day one of implementation is not only good practice but provides a robust dataset for research
  • Co-creation and agile development: Collaboration between frontline clinicians and designers, involving amputees directly in the process to create better solutions in months rather than years.
  • Economic sustainability: Cost-effective care through digital technology, smart monitoring, and simplified supply chains.
  • Sustainability focus: Remouldable sockets and adaptable components for long-term use in resource-constrained environments
  • Digital Transformation: smart monitors on the prosthetics can be used to collect patient data to improve patient follow up
  • The Data created can be used to analyse and publish on short medium and long term outcomes based on measures which the wearers themselves value (physical and psychological)

 

With nearly 400 amputees in Gaza receiving support within five months, the MASU program has shown its potential from providing early access to prosthetics at scale, and a programme of research has been initiated at the University of Jordan to assess the impact of this approach. Plans are underway to scale this initiative to more regions and integrate it with academic research.

AUIS and Restoring Hope: A Partnership for Change
During their visit, the Restoring Hope team discussed potential research collaborations with AUIS, building on the research of the University of Jordan, to assess and improve prosthetic service delivery in conflict-affected regions. This partnership could support:

  • Advanced research on prosthetic technologies and using real-world data.
  • The establishment of a distributed care model linking AUIS with regional prosthetic centers.
  • Training programs to enhance local expertise in rapid-fitting prosthetic care.
  • Identification of key partners for a pilot study and securing resources to implement it effectively.



Kurdistan as a Global Research Hub
Kurdistan’s experience in dealing with amputee support offers valuable insights for other regions facing similar challenges. AUIS has the potential to serve as a regional and global hub along with the University of Jordan, fostering research collaborations with institutions in the US, UK, and other global research centers. By building these connections, AUIS can contribute to developing scalable solutions that ensure better prosthetic care worldwide.

A Vision for the Future
Looking ahead, the Restoring Hope model aims to transform global amputee care by integrating digital transformation, AI- as a force multiplier, smart prosthetics, and regional centers of excellence. With AUIS's involvement, Kurdistan could become a key player in shaping the future of prosthetic accessibility, ensuring every amputee—regardless of location or financial status—can regain mobility, dignity, and independence.
Stay tuned for updates on this exciting collaboration as we work towards a world where prosthetic care is not a privilege but a fundamental right.