Yousra Ahmed

Egyptian biomedical engineer developing low-cost prosthetics for African amputees

Dr. Yousra Ahmed's 3D-printed prosthetic limbs have transformed lives across the African continent. After witnessing amputees in Sudan's conflict zones struggle with prohibitively expensive prosthetics during her 2017 medical mission, she developed the Affordable Limbs Project. Her innovations include solar-powered 3D printers and biodegradable materials made from agricultural waste, reducing costs by 85%. By 2022, her nonprofit had provided over 10,000 prosthetics in 14 African countries. Ahmed's open-source designs are used in 43 global labs, and her team trains local technicians through UNESCO partnerships. Her 2020 invention of a smartphone app that customizes prosthetic fittings using AI has been adopted by WHO's disability initiatives. As a UNICEF Innovation Champion since 2019, she advises on assistive technology policies. Ahmed's TED Talk "Printing Hope: Affordable Prosthetics for All" highlighted her vision of a world where disability doesn't limit potential. She recently launched a partnership with Kenya's Jomo Kenyatta University to create region-specific limb designs, addressing the unique needs of agricultural workers. Her work earned the 2021 African Union's Innovation Excellence Award and inspired similar projects in South America and Southeast Asia.