Why it is needed
It’s estimated that globally, approximately 1 billion people need one or more assistive products, with only one in ten having access to them. In East Africa, the World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted that access to assistive devices is particularly low, often less than 5%.
Approximately 240 million children with disabilities are particularly vulnerable without assistive technology. This lack of access hinders their education and exposes them to greater risks of child labour, stigma, and discrimination, adversely affecting their confidence and well-being (WHO Regional Office for Africa 2024).
This shortage is further heightened by Imported wheelchairs, which fall short in many crucial areas. They are expensive to import, built for different environments and struggle on the African terrain, thus frequently breaking down. Kyaninga Mobility (KM), launched in 2021 as the assistive technology division of the Kyaninga Child Development Centre (KCDC), is pioneering accessible healthcare solutions in Uganda and East Africa.
By harnessing innovative bamboo technology, KM is tackling the critical shortage of assistive devices such as wheelchairs and mobility aids. These include, standing devices, seating apparatuses, and other assistive devices. The designs, manufacturing and tests are done within our workshop using bamboo as the main skeleton and other local materials, such as bicycle parts.
Our wheelchair successfully completed ISO testing in Pittsburgh and surpassed the required 40,000 cycles in 2023. We’ve field-tested 10 wheelchair prototypes for a year. Remarkably, they passed all tests without any damage to the bamboo skeleton.
Our three central goals are to:
- Produce wheelchairs, mobility equipment and prosthetics for current and future KCDC clients
- Create an additional revenue source for KCDC by supplying mobility equipment for the East African market
- Provide a source of employment for an underdeveloped market and employ people with disabilities.
'For most of us, technology makes things easier. For people living with disabilities, it makes things possible.'