Clubfoot, one of the world’s most common physical deformities by birth (congenital deformity) that severely twists the foot downward and inward, makes walking difficult or impossible. Clubfoot can be corrected with serial cast/plaster and a special shoe. Many children born with clubfoot deformity are misunderstood as polio affected children. Majority of them grow up with clubfoot deformity and live physically challenged all their life. Untreated clubfoot children can’t walk, run or play and many of them never get an opportunity of education. From our experience we learn that there is very less awareness among the public that clubfoot can be treated. Many children undergo expensive surgery that result is life time painful and non-shoeable foot. CURE International India is providing free treatment for Clubfoot children. The Ponseti Method has been recognized by the WHO, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Pediatric Orthopedic Society of India as the preferred method of correction and is ideally suited for any developing country because of its inexpensive, non-surgical approach
Two out of every thousand children born in every country in the world regardless of race or geographical region suffers from clubfoot. Every 10 minutes a child is born with clubfoot in India, ie.,over 50,000 children are born with Clubfoot deformity every year (2 per 1000 birth). The good news is that clubfoot is curable and the treatment is less expensive comparing to other disability.
CURE International India began its service from April 2009 with a goal to eradicate disability caused by clubfoot in India. At present more than 35000 children are enrolled in this program nationwide in 29 states.
Ponseti International Association (PIA) has designated June 3rd as World Clubfoot Day. The date was chosen to commemorate the birth date of Dr. Ignacio Ponseti, (1914 - 2009) the developer of the Ponseti Method to treat Clubfoot (a birth deformity). Theme for the World Clubfoot Day is “World free of Clubfoot Deformity.”
The goal of World Clubfoot Day is to raise awareness about clubfoot disability and its prevention using the Ponseti Method, a non-surgical treatment that includes gentle manipulation of the feet followed by the application of plaster/casts and temporary bracing/shoe.
CURE Clubfoot Nagaland
Helpline – 9615606161
CURE Clubfoot Nagaland program started on September 2012 at Naga Hospital Authority Kohima on every Tuesday (weekly). Till date 57 children have been enrolled in Nagaland for free clubfoot treatment. It is estimated that over 60-70 children are born with clubfoot in Nagaland every year. This program is attached with Orthopaedic Department. With the help of NHM, Health and Family Welfare, Government of Nagaland and great support from the doctors and Hospital authority we can serve the treatment free of cost.
Tiarenla Jamir
State Program Coordinator
CURE International India
