Datshiane Navanayagam talks to two women about prostheses for amputees in Ukraine and children with limb difference in the UK.

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Olga Rudnieva felt she had to do something to help those wounded in the conflict. She set up the Superhumans trauma centre in Lviv, which she runs as CEO alongside a team of specialists, providing prosthetic limbs to patients. It has also launched a rehabilitation centre. Olga is featured on the BBC 100 Women list 2024 of inspiring and influential women.

When she was just a student in the UK Kate Allen inspired by the child of a family friend designed a prosthetic that can actually grow with children. She went on to found ExpHand Prosthetics providing affordable, life-changing upper limb prosthetics that give children their independence back.

Produced by Jane Thurlow

(Image: (L) Olga Rudnieva credit Superhumans Trauma Centre. (R) Kate Allen courtesy Kate Allen.)