Health Ministry Steps Up Clubfoot Treatment Campai...

Health Ministry Steps Up Clubfoot Treatment Campaign

Rutendo Mazhindu - ZimNow Reporter

The Ministry of Health and Child Care has intensified efforts to eliminate disability caused by clubfoot, a congenital condition that is 100 percent correctable if treated early, Minister Douglas Mombeshora has said.

Mombeshora urged parents to seek early medical intervention, saying misconceptions around the condition continue to delay treatment for many children.

“Clubfoot is not caused by witchcraft or anything that parents did or failed to do. It is a medical condition present at birth, and with timely treatment, it is fully correctable,” said Mombeshora.

Clubfoot, known medically as congenital talipes equinovarus, causes one or both feet to turn inwards and upwards. If left untreated, the condition can lead to permanent disability, affecting the child’s ability to walk, run or wear normal shoes.

The Ministry is rolling out treatment using the Ponseti method, a proven approach involving weekly plaster casts for six to eight weeks, followed by a minor surgical procedure known as a tenotomy.

“After the tenotomy, the child’s feet are put in plaster for three weeks, and then comes the bracing stage which is crucial to prevent recurrence,” explained Mombeshora.

The bracing phase happens in two stages. For the first three months, the child wears the brace for 23 hours a day. After that, the brace is worn during sleep for 12 to 14 hours daily until the child reaches four or five years of age.

According to the Ministry, most children who undergo Ponseti treatment can walk, run, play, and wear normal shoes, living the same active lives as other children.

“We are encouraging parents to visit Rehabilitation Departments at major hospitals for screening and treatment. Early detection and treatment are key to ensuring a disability-free future for children born with clubfoot,” Mombeshora said.

The Ministry is also working to dispel harmful cultural beliefs that associate the condition with curses or supernatural causes.

“Clubfoot is not a curse, it is a treatable medical condition. No child should live with a disability simply because of myths and misinformation,” said Mombeshora.