Dr. Peace Amaraegbulam, President of Nigeria Clubfoot Treatment Partners and Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, has revealed that Nigeria sees over 10,000 clubfoot cases every year.
This information was shared in a press release marking World Clubfoot Day, with the theme ‘Empowering life: Steps to Clubfoot Freedom.’ World Clubfoot Day is observed on June 3rd annually to raise awareness about clubfoot and stress the significance of early detection, referral, and prompt treatment.
The Nigeria Partners on Clubfoot Treatment, comprising three NGOs, emphasized the importance of integrating clubfoot treatment into the public health system to ensure no child suffers from untreated clubfoot. Dr. Amaraegbulam explained clubfoot as the most prevalent musculoskeletal birth defect that causes the feet to deform 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.”
He recommended the Ponseti treatment as an effective choice for clubfoot, highlighting obstacles such as healthcare expenses, limited healthcare access, insufficient healthcare personnel, and a lack of necessary braces that hinder many Nigerian children from receiving treatment.
According to the Hospital for Special Surgery website, the Ponseti method is a structured approach involving casting and brace therapy that can correct clubfoot in young children without surgery.
Dr. Amaraegbulam’s statement also mentioned that the Nigeria Partners on Clubfoot Treatment, comprising the Straight Child Foundation, HANDS, and Positive Care and Development Foundation in partnership with MiracleFeet, are dedicated to ensuring that children with clubfoot can access 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.
“We call on the government and health institutions to integrate free clubfoot into Nigeria’s health system to enable the treatment to be more accessible.
Philanthropists should also consider giving towards the cause of providing free treatment for the clients, especially the neglected older children,” the statement noted.
