How can the treatment of clubfoot be improved across Africa?
The first African conference on the congenital condition is being held in South Africa
Africa Daily · BBC World Service
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Show Notes
Whether or not a child gets treated for clubfoot – when a baby is born with twisted feet - varies across Africa. In some countries, like Senegal, only a minority of cases get treated – about 20% - though the authorities are now making a push to change this. In others countries, like South Africa, the majority of children with clubfoot will be treated.
But campaigners say the ‘gold standard’ treatment is actually relatively simple and low cost – no longer involving surgery. It’s named the Ponseti method after the Italian doctor who devised it.
Now the first ever African conference on the condition is being held in South Africa – organised by a long term campaigner whose own son was diagnosed with clubfoot 20 years ago – and treated by Doctor Ponseti himself.
Alan Kasujja reports for Africa Daily.
Presenter: Alan Kasujja @kasujja Guest: Karen Mara Moss @Steps_SA