CCBRT, Catholic Relief Services raise funds for clubfoot treatment
CCBRT and Catholic Relief Services have joined hands to commemorate World Clubfoot Day by mounting campaigns to create awareness and fundraise for free or low-cost clubfoot treatment at the Dar es Salaam-based hospital.
June 3 each year is officially World Clubfoot Day, an initiative of the Ponseti International Association to commemorate the birthday of Ignacio Ponseti, the pioneer of the Ponseti technique for clubfoot treatment.
To commemorate the day this year, CCBRT, Catholic Relief Services, children who were treated and those undergoing clubfoot treatment, their parents and guardians have gathered at CCBRT Hospital in Dar es Salaam, having different activities, including social and tradition media campaigns to create awareness and fundraise for free or low-cost clubfoot treatment at CCBRT hospital.
CEO of CCBRT Hospital in Dar es Salaam, Brenda Msangi, expressed her profound gratitude to all partners who continue supporting CCBRT in treating clubfoot to children. She encouraged parents and guardians to seek early treatment for any child born with clubfoot
“Clubfoot treatment is provided at a subsidized rate at CCBRT for children below the age of five years. This has been made possible with the support of various partners in transforming the lives of hundreds of children born with clubfoot and in turn avoiding permanent disability,” said Brenda.
CCBRT’s Orthopaedic Surgeon, Dr Prosper Alute, explained that clubfoot is the most common musculoskeletal birth deformity, affecting nearly 200,000 newborn children each year worldwide, 80 per cent being in the developing countries. Thousands of children and young adults live with this debilitating condition worldwide.
“Ponseti method is 100 per cent effective when properly applied by a trained healthcare provider and is considered the ‘gold standard’ treatment, leading to an everyday, productive life. CCBRT is the largest clubfoot care and treatment provider in Tanzania as we enroll over 360 new cases annually, while up to 400 children attend our clubfoot clinic for monthly follow-ups”, said Dr Alute.
