“Various activities will be organized for awareness during Clubfoot Month.”

CNN Central News & Network–ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: An awareness month is being organized on the theme ‘Healthy Steps, Healthy Life’ to raise awareness about clubfoot disease. In June, special activities will be conducted to raise awareness about clubfoot and identify new patients.

Clubfoot is one of the 32 diseases identified under the National Child Health Program. During June, camps will be organized in clubfoot clinics to identify new children.

Bhopal district was declared clubfoot-free in November 2019, and there are no remaining backlog cases of this disease in Bhopal. All new cases are identified and treated immediately after birth. Throughout the month, orientation will be conducted for doctors and paramedical staff at all birthing centers, SNCUs, and NBSUs. Screening camps will also be held at the district and block levels.

Approximately 33,000 children are born with clubfoot in India every year. The treatment for clubfoot involves three stages: casting, tenotomy, and bracing.

After treatment, the child is given braces that need to be worn day and night for the next three months, only to be removed during bathing. After the initial three months, the braces need to be worn only while sleeping at night and during the day, for a period of 4 to 5 years.

Chief Medical and Health Officer Bhopal, Dr. Prabhakar Tiwari, explained that clubfoot is a congenital defect in which one or both of the child’s feet are turned inward. About 1 or 2 out of every 1,000 newborns are at risk of having clubfoot. After treatment, these children can perform all activities normally like other children.

The child’s treatment can begin immediately after birth. Under the National Child Health Program, more than 400 children in Bhopal have been treated for this disease in the past 10 years, with 30 children treated last year. Casting and braces are provided free of charge after treatment. In the past 6 months, braces have been given to 17 children.

A ‘Clubfoot Clinic’ is being operated at the District Early Intervention Center with the support of the Anushka Foundation. The clinic provides special shoes or braces free of charge to children after clubfoot surgery. The clinic operates every Thursday at the District Early Intervention Center. Children with clubfoot or twisted feet can receive free treatment at DEIC.”