The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that approximately 1.3 billion people, or 16% of the global population, live with significant disabilities. This number is increasing due to factors such as non-communicable diseases and longer life expectancies. In 2015, Jordan recorded 651,396 individuals aged five and older with disabilities, making up 11.1% of that age group—about one in nine people. Motor disabilities account for 4.8%, which represents 43.2% of all disabilities.

Many developing countries, particularly in the Middle East, lack training centres that provide comprehensive programs for fitting, fabricating, and assessing prosthetics. Over 75% of these nations do not have such training programs, leading to inadequate access to essential services. Immediate action is needed to increase the number of trained professionals, ensuring that everyone, regardless of socio-economic status or location, has access to these vital services.

The Isra University Prosthesis and Training Centre aims as well to link the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being- Ensuring healthy lives and promoting the well-being for all at all ages is essential to sustainable development), (SDG 4: Quality Education - Obtaining a quality education is the foundation to improving people’s lives and sustainable development), and (SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities- To reduce inequalities, policies should be universal in principle, paying attention to the needs of disadvantaged and marginalized populations that include people with disabilities) to create a knowledge centre for prosthesis that is more accessible, and enable less privileged individuals to walk the extra mile. It is a sustainability project that ties with the SDG and will contribute to knowledge transfer.  Al-Isra University will be the first to establish a centre for prosthetic limbs in Jordan and to the best of our knowledge in the region.

Increasing awareness of prosthetics and their role in enhancing individuals' quality of life is essential. Additionally, implementing an education program to train skilled prosthetic technicians is crucial for meeting workforce demands. This initiative aligns with the United Nations' broader vision for a sustainable and equitable future.

We aim to shape a sustainable and inclusive future.

Dr. Eman Zmaily               
Director of the Prosthetics Center