A Lost Arm and Newfound Hope

The incidence of workplace injuries is increasing worldwide as a result of lowering safety standards. According 2019 data from the International Labor Organization, 270 million workplace accidents occur each year, including two million annual deaths due to unsafe working conditions.

There are many international conventions and treaties requiring business owners to follow adequate safety measures to prevent worker deaths and injuries – incidents such as the one that cost Hajj Saleh Yeslam Basabi’ his arm.

Haj Saleh, 54 years old, is a resident of the Hadramawt governorate’s Seiyun district. While working in a brick-making factory, he was severely injured by a 25-ton hydraulic press, resulting in the amputation of his arm. This tragic workplace accident led to the loss of his ability to earn an income, and he was in desperate need of help. When he learned about the KSrelief-funded Artificial Limbs Center in Seiyun, Haj Saleh went there right away, hoping to find a solution for his suffering.

Technicians at the center went to work right away to manufacture a prosthetic arm for Haj Saleh. Once he’d learned how to use the device, he was able to find work in the delivery business driving both motorcycles and cars.

He recounts his experience: “With my new limb, I am now able to eat and drink, open and close things, and perform all the regular tasks I haven’t been able to do since 2009 when I lost my arm. This device has enabled me to work as a motorcycle and taxi driver. I am so grateful to King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre and the Artificial Limbs Center for this great humanitarian service! "