Twenty years ago, Isaac was walking to buy water when he was knocked down by a car. In an instant, an ordinary errand became the event that would define the next two decades of his life.

Across Ghana and much of Sub-Saharan Africa, road accidents are all too common. In wealthier countries, most amputations are linked to vascular disease and diabetes. Here, trauma from road crashes is the leading cause.

Behind the statistics, there is a young person like Isaac, who has a full life ahead of him.

Amputee stigma

For years afterwards, Isaac got around on a stick. With disability, especially amputation, Isaac faced a lot of stigma.

“When you use a stick, the discrimination and the stigma that comes along with it is so much…When you even want to talk to someone, they think you want to beg them for money.“

This is a pattern we see again and again at STAND. Not only do people with limb loss struggle to earn a living, but they also face isolation. There is an assumption that a person is now less capable, less independent, or in need of charity. That assumption can be as limiting as the injury itself, shaping how people are treated at work, in the street, and within their own communities.

Donated leg components

That changed when Isaac was fitted with a new prosthetic leg at the Orthopedic Training Centre in Ghana. They have been trusted partners of STAND for many years, and their prosthetic workshops receive the most leg component donations.

STAND provides all leg components for free, which would otherwise cost thousands of £s to patients. This in turn makes prosthetic care affordable for patients in the eight countries we work in.

Independence

“Wearing my prosthetics has brought me joy…It’s getting better, I’m going to work independent, without the crutches.“

A leg provides mobility, but it unlocks so much more. It gives amputees like Isaac the independence to do everyday things, allowing him to earn a living or go to school, and it lifts the care burden on his family and friends. 

The impact of one leg is significant.

However, beyond that, it empowers Isaac to rise above the stigma: “I’m so excited to have this prosthetic, because I believe it’s going to change my social life and how people relate to me.”

Why this matters

Isaac’s story illustrates the two challenges STAND exists to address. Firstly, it shows the sheer scale of road accident-related amputations across the region, and with that, the lives of amputees impacted. Secondly, we can’t ignore the stigma and isolation that so often follow losing a limb. By providing legs and supporting prosthetic workshops to provide expert care, we know this provides life-changing impact for people like Isaac.

Why your support matters

👉 Support STAND’s today, so more amputees like Isaac can build their future.

Sources
STAND (2026) Our impact. Available at: https://stand.ngo/impact/ (Accessed: 16 September 2026).
Wei, B., Zhang, J., Cheng, Y. and Wu, H. (2025) ‘Global, regional and national burden of traumatic amputations from 1990 to 2021: a systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease study 2021’, Frontiers in Public Health, 13, 1583523. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1583523. Available at: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1583523/full (Accessed: 16 September 2026).