Zimbabwe is joining the rest of the world to commemorate the World Clubfoot Day under the theme “Quality Treatment Ensures Great Results”. Clubfoot is a deformed foot which is twisted so that the sole cannot be placed flat on the ground.
Ropafadzo Hove, Director of Pharmacy Service in the Ministry of Health and Child Care said that through collaboration with the Zimbabwe Sustainable Clubfoot Programme, the Ponseti method of clubfoot management, has so far been established in all the provincial and central hospitals.
“The aim of the Ministry is to continue rolling out this programme until every hospital has the capacity to effectively manage clubfoot towards achieving the goal of ‘Eliminating Clubfoot as a lifelong Disability in Zimbabwe’.” Hove said.
“We hope, through working together with our patners we can achieve more, reach more children and further this initiative in Zimbabwe through education, training and research.”
The World Clubfoot Day is celebrated on the 3rd of June every year.
“I am reliably informed that the month of June was declared ‘Clubfoot Awareness Month’ and the 3rd of June has been chosen by the Ponseti International Association as World Club Day to honour the birthday of the late Dr Ignacio Ponseti, the doctor who developed the Ponseti method of treating clubfoot, a technique that has become preferred and regarded as the most effective method of managing clubfoot worldwide,” the director said.
“In Zimbabwe we also acknowledge and recognise the contribution made by Ignacio Ponseti towards changing the lives of many children throughout the world using this technique and today and throughout the month of June we will continue to add our voice to the numerous other nations that are celebrating this day by spreading the message that Clubfoot is a deformity that can be treated and that every child born with clubfoot should not necessarily end up with a lifelong disability.”
Statistics in 2016 show that approximately 500 babies are born with clubfoot each year in Zimbabwe.
Although the Ponseti method of clubfoot management has been established in hospital around Zimbabwe case studies in a seminar held in Harare today show that families with children affected by the deformity are having financial challenges to travel to medical institutions for treatment.
Medical experts have been making a follow up on clubfoot patience sometimes working to raise money to transport the affected children.