Projects
2024 Club Foot Initiative
In July 2024, the Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, launched the 2024 Clubfoot Initiative to provide affordable care for children with clubfoot.
With a goal to reduce treatment abandonment due to financial constraints, the program set a budget of ₦6,000 per manipulation and casting procedure and ₦4,000 per tenotomy. Six months in, the initiative has made a remarkable impact, and we’re excited to share our progress.
A Look at the Numbers
Since July, 34 patients have been enrolled in the program, receiving a total of 169 manipulation and casting procedures. On average, each child underwent five procedures to correct their deformity. Here’s how patient recruitment unfolded:
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July: 6 patients
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August: 11 patients
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September: 6 patients
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October: 6 patients
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November: 3 patients
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December: 2 patients
Thirteen patients have successfully completed the corrective phase and are now in the maintenance phase. Of these, seven required tenotomy as part of their treatment.
Who Are Our Patients?
The children we’ve treated range in age from just six days old to 10 years. While half of them were over six months at the time of presentation, 14 children were older than one year, significantly increasing the materials needed for their care.
Here’s a breakdown of the cases:
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Gender: 18 boys and 16 girls
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Deformity: 22 cases of bilateral clubfeet and 12 cases of unilateral clubfeet (7 right-sided, 5 left-sided)
Making It Affordable: Financial Impact
The initiative has provided significant cost savings for families, covering:
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169 manipulation and casting procedures: ₦1,014,000
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7 tenotomy procedures: ₦28,000
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Total Cost: ₦1,042,000
While the program has covered much of the treatment, older children often require additional materials, such as a protective layer of scotch cast, which costs ₦5,000 and is procured by parents. The maintenance phase, which involves using a foot abduction brace, is also currently the responsibility of the parents.
Challenges and Opportunities for Growth
Caring for older children has highlighted the need for more materials and flexibility. Leftover casts from unilateral cases have helped, but as demand grows, so does the need for sustainable funding. Expanding coverage to include the maintenance phase and reducing out-of-pocket costs for families remains a key goal for the future.
Looking Ahead
The 2024 Clubfoot Initiative has already transformed the lives of 34 children, giving them a chance to walk and thrive. With continued support and funding, we can ensure that no child is left behind due to financial barriers. Together, we can take this initiative to greater heights and bring hope to even more families in 2025.