Childhood Disability: Stakeholders urged to eliminate stigma associated with Clubfoot 

Stakeholders have been urged to help raise awareness and eliminate the stigma often associated with clubfoot, a treatable condition which occurs in children. 

Parents are to seek early treatment for the condition while policymakers strengthen support for early detection, disability inclusion, and child health services in the country. 

Clubfoot is a condition present at birth in which one or both feet are twisted inward and downward. If left untreated, experts say a child may face lifelong challenges with walking, which could affect education, employment, and social inclusion. 

In Ghana, an estimated 1,000 babies are said to be born with clubfoot every year. 

In commemoration of the World Clubfoot Day, marked on June 3 every year, stakeholders create awareness about the condition and, among other things, celebrate the dedication of health professionals who ensure children receive treatment. 

In a release copied to Ghana News Agency, Nana Afua Adutwumwaa Adjetey, Programme Manager, Ghana Clubfoot Programme, noted that many families were unaware of the free treatment available for the condition in Ghana. 

She observed that the lack of awareness continued to delay treatment for children who could have received prompt and life-changing care at no cost. 

Treatment, she said, was provided free of charge for children under age five at Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG–Hope Walks) partner clinics across the country. 

More than 9,000 children born with clubfoot had received treatment and care through the programme over the past 18 years. 

“The treatment follows the internationally recognised Ponseti Method, which uses a series of gentle casts to gradually correct the position of the foot, followed by a brace to maintain correction and prevent relapse. When treatment begins early, success rates are extremely high,” Madam Adjetey explained. 

“For many children, the journey begins with a health worker who identifies clubfoot at birth and makes a referral. A few moments of observation can change the course of a child’s life forever.” 

“Clubfoot is not a curse; it is not caused by wrongdoing…it is a medical condition that can be treated successfully. Families should never feel ashamed to seek help.” 

The Programme Manager said children born with the condition deserved equal opportunities, dignity, and inclusion, and called on communities to support parents rather than “judge them.” 

She encouraged healthcare professionals to continue making clubfoot screening a part of every newborn assessment to ensure children identified were referred promptly for treatment. 

The Ghana Clubfoot Programme, implemented by the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) in partnership with Hope Walks, a non-governmental organisation, has been providing support and transforming the lives of children with the condition since 2008. 

“The programme has demonstrated that clubfoot can be treated successfully. Our challenge is to ensure every child born with clubfoot is identified early enough to benefit from the treatment.” 

“No child should be denied the opportunity to walk because of lack of information. No family should suffer in silence because they do not know help is available.” 

Source: GNA