The Nigeria Partners on Clubfoot Treatment yesterday, said over 10,000 children are born with clubfoot yearly in the country. President of Nigeria Clubfoot Treatment Partners and Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Peace Amaraegbulam, made the revelation in a statement to commemorate the 2024 World Clubfoot Day with the theme, ‘Empowering life: Steps to Clubfoot Freedom’.
The event is celebrated every June 3 to raise awareness about clubfoot and underscore the importance of early detection, referral and timely treatment.
The Nigeria Partners on Clubfoot Treatment, consisting of three non-governmental organizations, remarked that no child should suffer from untreated clubfoot and called for the integration of clubfoot treatment into the public health system.
Amaraegbulam described clubfoot as the most common musculoskeletal birth defect which causes the feet to turn inwards and upwards. She stated: “In Nigeria, over 10,000 children are born with this condition each year and without treatment. Walking becomes extremely difficult and painful as children walk on the sides of their feet.
“This leads to discrimination, social stigmatisation and loss of economic opportunities.” She, however, said the Ponseti treatment is an effective option for clubfoot, but barriers such as out-of-pocket healthcare costs, poor access to healthcare facilities, inadequate number of healthcare professionals and lack of foot-abduction braces prevent many Nigerian children from accessing care.
health group, Hospital for Special Surgery, noted that the Ponseti method is a systematic series of casting and orthotic bracing treatments that permanently and nonsurgically corrects clubfoot in kids.
The statement also pointed out that the Nigeria Partners on Clubfoot Treatment, which equally comprises the Straight Child Foundation, HANDS, Positive Care and Development Foundation, in collaboration with MiracleFeet, is ensuring that children with clubfoot could receive care locally.
“These three organisations in Nigeria operate clubfoot clinics in select states. To avail yourself of the free clubfoot treatment, kindly locate the clinic nearest to you in the state where you reside. The clinic schedules specific days for treatment, ensuring children receive the necessary care and support for clubfoot correction,” it added.
