‘Don’t stigmatise children with clubfoot’

The Head of Orthopedics and Trauma Unit at 37 Military Hospital, Lt. Col. Delali Adzigbli, has advised the public not to stigmatise mothers who give birth to babies with clubfoot.

Describing clubfoot as a “spontaneous deformity”, he said the condition does not affect only the poor and neither was it a fault from the baby or mother, therefore, “there is no reason why anybody should be stigmatised.”

He said the condition is treated free of charge and children can grow up to live normal lives, hence money should not be an impediment to anyone seeking treatment for the condition.

“When the baby is born, the tissues are very soft so they respond very well to manipulation and as they mature they can stretch out and allow the feet to assume its natural position and that is the aim of the treatment.

Lt. Col Adzigbli made the remarks on Thursday when the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) and Hope Walks, a non-governmental organisation, collaborated with the 37 Military Hospital to mark this year’s World Clubfoot Day.

Clubfoot is a birth defect in which one or both feet of a child is/are twisted inwards and downwards. About one in 1,000 babies born in Ghana are said to have the deformity.

The commemoration was to create awareness and provide treatment for children with the condition. About 15 children born with clubfoot and at different stages of treatment were attended to by health workers at Osei Kwame Despite Block at the 37 Military Hospital.

Lt. Col Adzigbli, explaining the treatment process, noted that an assessment is done to determine the severity of deformity “before it is corrected stage by stage.”

He said early detection was appropriate but the condition could still be corrected if the child is older. “The earlier you start the treatment, the better”, he said.

Pastor Joseph Andrews, Parent Advisor at the Osei Kwame Despite Block, also debunked myths associated with clubfoot and asked parents not to fret when they see signs of the condition in newborns.

“It is a sickness like polio, chickenpox or meseals, it affects everyone so don’t hide with your baby; just come out and receive treatment,” he said.

Nana Afua Adutwumaa Adjeitey, Programme Manager CHAG/Hope Walks, was impressed with the awareness and the impact made over the years. She said the organisation would continue to intensify education and support treatment for clubfoot.

Ms. Esther Esi Gyekye, Clinic Supervisor at the Children’s Block, indicated that about 30 cases of clubfoot were being managed at the facility and more parents were turning up with their wards for treatment.

Apart from the 37 Military Hospital, treatment for clubfoot is available free of charge on selected days at the Tamale Teaching Hospital, St. John of God Hospital, Duayaw-Nkwanta, Bono Ahafo, SDA Hospital, Kwadaso, Kumasi, every Friday and SDA Hospital, Gbawe, Accra.

By Ernest Nutsugah