Cheap 3D printed prosthetics could be game changer for Nepal

This photo taken on July 14, 2017 shows Disaster Hack founder Matthew Rockwell (R) attaching a 3D printed prosthetic hand to leprosy sufferer Ram's arm in Kathmandu. Disaster Hack is a non-profit technology startup that is making functional prosthetic hands for those who couldn't otherwise afford them. Disaster Hack makes its money doing tech consulting and teaching people to code, while running altruistic ventures on the side like teaching Nepalis IT skills and manufacturing low-cost, basic prosthetics. / AFP PHOTO / Gopen RAI

KATHMANDU: Ram’s new hand was manufactured on a 3D printer in Nepal’s capital for just US$30 (RM128), an innovation that could be a game changer for many in the impoverished Himalayan country. 

Once a farmer, Ram lost his hands and toes within a few years of contracting leprosy, forcing the father-of-three to turn to begging in a desperate bid to feed his family.