From unbearable pain to joy, lost hope to celebration, and stigma to social acceptance — this is the life-changing story of children with clubfoot conditions at the St John of God hospital in Duayaw-Nkwanta, Ahafo region.
Thanks to the Medical Director of the facility, Dr Tsibo-Takyi, his team of surgeons, and supporting staff, these children with walking impairment are presently hopping, moving freely, unaided.
Dignitaries and representatives of stakeholder institutions joined the staff of the hospital on two missions — celebrate the World Clubfoot Day 2025 and witness a ceremony to discharge the healed children.
As part of activities to mark 2025 World Clubfoot Day, held on June 3 annually, the St John of God hospital in Duayaw-Nkwanta in the Ahafo region, Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) and the Hope Walks, raised awareness on the condition.
The team also shared success stories of children who have been treated for clubfoot and are now living normal, productive lives and also used the day to expressed gratitude to medical professionals who helped in the healing process.
Clubfoot is a birth defect in which the foot is twisted out of shape or position. The cause of clubfoot is unknown. Babies with clubfoot are usually otherwise healthy.
In clubfoot, the foot appears twisted and can even look as if it’s upside down.
Treatment is usually successful. It includes stretching and casting (Ponseti method) or stretching and taping (French method). Sometimes, surgery is required.
In every three minutes, a child is born with clubfoot. Though it cannot be prevented, clubfoot is highly treatable using a simple and effective method involving a series of casts and braces.
With early diagnosis and proper care, children born with clubfoot can grow up to walk, run, and live full lives on completely straight feet.
Nana Afua Adutwumwaa Adjetey, the Country Program Manager, Ghana Clubfoot Program, said the Ghana Clubfoot Program, led by the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) and supported by Hope Walks, achieved significant milestones in the management of the condition.
The Program Manager said 346 new children enrolled, exceeding national targets by 15 percent, 547 unique patients supported across clubfoot partner clinics, and 252 children received their first brace, achieving a 79 percent first brace rate.
She added that the team recorded 3,334 clinic visits, 2,584 caregiver counseling sessions, and 58 home visits conducted, and over 600 health professionals were trained in Early Detection and Referral (EDR).
Nana Afua Adutwumwaa who is also the Program Manager for Hope Walks and CHAG stated that “media and public engagement efforts were intensified, amplifying the clubfoot message nationwide”.
When discharging the healed children, she said treatment is fully free and that she implored parents and guardians not to hide children with clubfoot from seeking early intervention noting that “the earlier, the better”.
The Program Manager further urged government and other key stakeholders in the sector to increased treatment access worldwide to ensure quality healthcare services for the condition.
She advocated for access to support organizations working to provide treatment in developing countries, and encouraged policymakers to prioritize clubfoot treatment funding and access, raise awareness about the economic and social impact of untreated clubfoot.
Dr Tsibo-Takyi, the Medical Director, stated that the facility has successfully treated and discharged more than 1,000 children saying that the condition is purely scientific and not spiritual.
He entreated health professionals, journalists, parents and teachers among other stakeholders to be Ambassadors for the clubfoot condition to ensure that no child is left out of the healing process.
The Medical Director cautioned the public against social stigma against persons affected by the condition adding that “together we can make our society a better place of abode”.
Sis Faustina Anarkwa, the Administrator, St John of God hospital, admonished fathers to support women during and after the treatment process to reduce burden on caretaker mothers.
She also emphasized the importance of early detection to ensure early treatment of the condition among children in order to have a positive impact of life.
The 2025 World Clubfoot Day, held on the theme “Living without disability caused by untreated clubfoot” is also a chance to honor Dr lgnacio Ponseti, who developed the Ponseti Method, a non-surgical treatment for clubfoot.
A parent of a beneficiary child, Ophilia Sarpong, expressed gratitude to medical officers of St John of God hospital who exhibited resilience, love and professionalism during and after the healing process.
From pain to walking in freedom, lost hope restored, and smiles in the faces of mothers and caregivers, this is the success story of the Duayaw-Nkwanta st John of God hospital.
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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
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