HAMA, Syria, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Ali Bakeer, a medical engineering student in Syria, has developed a prosthetic hand meant to help the disabled people who suffered injuries during the war.
Born in the town of Rabia in the central province of Hama, the 22-year-old man, who is a third-year college student, said he had a strong interest in electronics as a boy.
The idea of creating the prosthetic hand was driven by the needs of the injured during the war, according to Bakeer.
"This invention emanates from the need for it as a result of the injuries of people during the war especially those who lost body parts, mainly the upper parts who couldn't find suitable ones that could help them with their new situation," he told Xinhua.
His invention constitutes two parts, a silicone palm and a finger with an electronic sensor which is attached to the muscle of an amputated person.
When the muscle contracts, the sensor tightens or opens the hand to enable the injured to grab an apple or a cup of water and even to write.
He expressed hopes that he could develop his invention to a full arm in the future.
Bakeer started this campaign as a university project on Facebook, where he said more than 100 people immediately responded, and more people are joining.
The young man said working with a program named the Homeland's Wounded, he spent two days in creating the hand.
Those who do not afford the expensive prosthetics find the hand right for them as it gives them part of their normal life back for an equivalent of 200 U.S. dollars.
Mayas Mansour, an amputated first lieutenant, lost his hands during battles against the Islamic State (IS) militants in the eastern province of Deir al-Zour.
Mansour had installed an expensive electronic hand and later a plastic prosthetic hand before resorting to Bakeer's invention.
"When I tried this hand for the first time it was a relief for me because I would be able to drive a car again and grab things such as a cup and return to work with two hands," the military officer told Xinhua.
Mazen Mayhoub, a wounded army soldier, who also lost his hand from the elbow, said he had tears in his eyes when using the hand for the first time.
"When I saw this hand moving I got happy and I had tears in my eyes. This is the will of God I cannot say anything else," he said.
