Pakistani Startup Bioniks Gives New Arms to Gaza Children
A Pakistani company called Bioniks is changing lives for children in Gaza who lost their arms or legs in the war.
One of these children is Sidra Al Bordeeni, an 8-year-old girl. Last year, Sidra was at her school in Gaza when a missile hit. The school had become a shelter for families trying to escape bombings. Sidra’s arm was badly hurt, but her family could not get help because Gaza’s hospitals were damaged and they could not leave.
Sadly, doctors could not save her arm. For one year, Sidra could not ride her bicycle or play with her friends like she used to.
Bioniks, a social enterprise startup based in Karachi, heard about Sidra and wanted to help. Bioniks makes custom 3D-printed prosthetic arms for people who have lost limbs. They use a special app to take pictures from different angles and create a 3D model for each person’s new arm. This way, they can help people even if they live far away.
Sidra’s new arm was made in Karachi, more than 4,000 kilometers away from her camp in Jordan. The team did everything through video calls and online meetings. When the arm was ready, Anas Niaz, the CEO of Bioniks, flew all the way to Jordan to deliver it himself.
Sidra was so happy. As soon as she got her new arm, she got on her bicycle and rode around the camp. Her friends were excited to see her play again. Sidra’s mother, Sabreen, said she could not stop thanking God because her daughter was smiling again.
Sidra also did something very special. For a whole year, whenever she wanted to make a heart shape with her hands, she needed someone else to help her. But this time, she made the heart shape with her two hands by herself and sent a photo to her father, who is still stuck in Gaza. Sidra says the thing she wants most is to hug her father with both arms when she sees him again.
Bioniks also made a new arm and leg for Habebat Allah, a 3-year-old girl who lost both her arms and a leg during the war. The company used donations from Pakistan to pay for her new limbs.
Bioniks makes these prosthetic arms for around $2,500, which is much cheaper than the $10,000 to $20,000 cost in places like the United States. Their arms are simple but very helpful for children. They even add superhero designs like Iron Man or Disney’s Elsa to make kids feel happy about wearing them.
In Gaza, the situation is very sad. The United Nations says more than 4,500 new amputees, many of them children, were added in Gaza since the war started. Local doctors say there are now thousands of children who need new arms or legs. But Gaza’s health system is almost gone and families cannot leave for treatment easily.
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Bioniks wants to help more children in Gaza, Ukraine, and other war zones. They are looking for more donations and partnerships to make this possible.
Sidra’s new arm has given her hope, fun, and freedom again. Bioniks shows that one idea from Pakistan can make a huge difference for children who need it most.