Training to correct club foot

21.07.2011- Club foot is a condition present from birth in which the foot grows inward. Although widespread in West Africa, this crippling deformity can be easily reversed if addressed early.

Mercy Ships doctors are training West African medical practitioners in a low cost casting technique first developed by a Spanish doctor, Dr. Ignacio Ponseti, to help address this issue and continue it when the ship leaves.

Early patient diagnosis is critical, especially before the age of two when the bones are still forming. During each of up to six casts, the child’s foot is physically manipulated by applying pressure to the corrected foot alignment in a gentle technique that does not cause pain for the babies.

Dr. Frank Haydon, a Mercy Ships volunteer, has adapted the training to incorporate partnerships with local NGOs. Training events are dynamic, interactive and also include fundamentals for successful clinic management and patient care advice for caregivers. Bambino Suma, one of the participants, highlighted the value of the training program, saying, “I was able to see past mistakes and improve my knowledge from this new scale of training in this Mercy Ships program.”