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World Clubfoot Day: GIS students paint foot braces for clubfoot children in Ghana
Students of the Art Club of the Ghana International School (GIS) in Accra have participated in a “Paint a Brace” initiative as part of activities to commemorate this year’s World Clubfoot Day on June 3, 2023.
This initiative led by the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) and Hope Walks, a non-governmental organisation, was to put a smile on the faces of children receiving treatment for clubfoot at various facilities in the country.
Some of the braces designed by the pupils
Clubfoot is a range of foot abnormalities usually present at birth in which a baby’s foot is twisted out of shape or position.
With the guidance of teachers and the team from CHAG and Hopes for Life, the art students actively participated in the project and came up with colorful footbraces last Wednesday in Accra.
Mrs. Nana Afua Adutwumwaa Adjetey, Programme Manager, CHAG/Hope Walks Clubfoot Project, said the collaboration was to create clubfoot awareness and treatment.
“About one in 1,000 babies born in Ghana have the deformity. Because the cause is largely unknown, the disease is considered a curse with the belief that the babies are “river babies” or “dwarf babies.”
“These beliefs and the high stigma associated with the deformity force some families to abandon their children,” she said, adding that the disease was treatable and about 8,000 children had received treatment since 2008.
Treatment for clubfoot comes in two stages.
The Corrective Phase involves a series of manipulation, casting, and tenotomy (minor surgical procedure).
The Maintenance Phase involves wearing of foot abduction brace. At this stage, a clubfoot child wears the brace to maintain the correction achieved till age five.
In the first three months, the child wears the brace for 23 hours a day. The brace is taken off during bath time and exercise (stretches) is done for the baby’s foot. After three months, the child wears the braces during the night and nap time till age five to avoid clubfoot relapse or re-occurrence.
CHAG and Hope Walks urged individuals and institutions to replicate the project and support children with clubfoot.
By Ernest Nutsugah
News
COP Yohuno takes over from Dr.Dampare as new IGP
President John Dramani Mahama has in accordance with Articles 91 and 202 of the 1992 constitution and in consultation with the Council of State, appointed Commissioner of Police (COP) Christian Tetteh Yohuno as the Inspector-General of Police.
He replaces COP Dr. George Akuffo Dampare.
COP Yohuno brings forty years of experience to the position of IGP and is expected to oversee the modernization and transformation of the Ghana Police Service.
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Minister for the Interior Urges European Union to Improve on Collaboration and Support
The Minister for the Interior, Hon. Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, commended the European Union (EU) for its continuous support and initiatives in Ghana and urged the Union to enhance collaboration and support with the Ministry and its agencies.
Ghana takes security issues seriously and will do everything possible to protect the peace and maintain security in the country, the Minister assured.
Other areas of collaboration discussed during the meeting aimed to improve the Ghana Prisons Service, particularly decongestion and equipment improvement.
Hon. Muntaka made these remarks while receiving a delegation from the EU, led by its Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Irchad Razaaly.
The delegation assessed the EU’s Defence and Security initiative in Ghana, as well as supporting the country’s security and defence capabilities.
The initiative is part of the EU’s integrated approach to tackling instability and insecurity challenges in the region.
The EU Security and Defence Initiative (EU SDI) in the Gulf of Guinea region is geared towards strengthening the security and defence capabilities of Ghana and effectively respond to security threats.
