Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, a former Minister of Health on Friday said that clubfoot was curable if detected and presented early at the hospital.
Chukwu, who was a guest speaker, disclosed this at the International Conference on Clubfoot held at the Federal Medical Centre, (FMC) Ebute Metta, Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme was organised by the Paediatric Orthopedic Society of Nigeria (POSON), to commemorate the World Clubfoot Day.
NAN reports that the theme of this year’s celebration marked every June 3 globally, is “Universal Clubfoot Coverage: Everyone, Everywhere”.
Clubfoot is a range of foot abnormalities usually present at birth, in which a baby’s foot is twisted out of shape or position.
“Clubfoot is inborn and nobody knows what causes it, they are deformities a child comes into the world with and sometimes affect either one or both foot of a child.
“The good thing is that research on this deformities are still ongoing and it is treatable and curable when presented early.
“What the government has done so far is approving the method of handling people with clubfoot, entered a memorandum of understanding with the Nigeria Clubfoot Programme and offering technical support.
“The government can do more by spending money on the various facilities where these deformities are being treated and in the areas of training,” Chukwu said.
He urged the government to commit more fund to enhance the treatment of clubfoot in the country.
On ways of treatment of Clubfoot, Chukwu who is also an orthopedic surgeon, noted that the Ponseti method was the most effective system of treatment and was being practised in almost all the treatment centres in Nigeria.
He said that the advantage of the Ponseti method was basically 90 per cent non-operative, very effective, less complications and cheap.
Also, Dr Salihu Muhammed, the President, Nigeria Orthopedic Association, said the programme was organised to create more awareness about clubfoot in the country.
“The message we are passing to Nigerians and parents is that anytime a child is born it is important for the child to be examined for any birth defects.
“When recognised, it should be treated early and people should stop attributing it to demons or the fault of the mother because these are normal scientific things that do happen.
” So, no human being should be blamed for having a child with birth defects.
” Such child or children should be taken to hospital for early treatment to achieve good result, ” he said.
Also, Prof. Olayinka Adegbehingbe, the President, POSON said over 10,000 patients had been treated across the country .
Adegbehingbe said it was made possible due to the introduction of the Ponseti method of treatment which was introduced to the country in 2007.
“We want everyone to know that clubfoot is treatable and there are various centres where this treatment can be accessed in the country.
“This is the fifteenth year that we have been working on this and so far 10,000 patients have been treated.
“I brought Ponseti method to the country and with support, this method has been introduced to other African countries also,” he said.
Also, the Medical Director, FMC, Dr Adedamola Dada said that clubfoot was quite common but the good news was that it was eminently treatable.
Dada said the major challenge was that many people did not know that it was treatable.
He said about 80 per cent of cases detected did not need surgical intervention and that it was part of what the association was doing.
He said that the aim was to increase the awareness of Nigerians and let them know that the deformity could be treated and the children could become normal like any other children and be able to walk without problem.
Dada said the prevalence varies from country to country, community to community and towns to towns but did not know that it was common.
He said that the best time to pick it up was at delivery and commence treatment immediately.
He said it was important that the midwives were being educated and those who took deliveries of babies that such children be examined at birth and referred to the appropriate centre. (NAN)
