All the materials to make the legs come from Mr Woothiwong's factory-owner friends. Each supplies different materials every week. The rubber, screws, stainless steel sheets and plastic axes used in the manufacture of the legs, come from 30 different factories. Other factories donate money for our project. I really experience a sense of sharing among the members.
Local material means a cheaper product.
The TIDF's artificial leg costs about 5,500 baht apiece, similar foreign-made prosthetics cost about 90,000 baht. And the TIDF's leg weighs only six kilogrammes, while many similar products weigh about 11 kilogrammes. The TIDF's artificial foot costs about 100 baht, compared with imported models which cost between 1,600 and 2,000 baht. Mr Woothiwong has turned his factory into the artificial leg production unit, where poor people can go and ask for a free prosthetic. Three volunteers work at the factory assembling the legs and fitting them to the amputees.