BY SAMMY JULIAN
DID you know that one out of every 750 children born worldwide is born with clubfoot? That’s roughly one child every three minutes.
A clubfoot, also called congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV), is long considered the single most common congenital birth defect involving one foot or both feet. The foot appears to have been rotated internally at the ankle.
Without proper treatment, many of these children walk with great difficulty, making clubfoot one of the leading causes of permanent disability in the world.
However, with treatment, a vast majority of patients recovers completely during early childhood and are able to walk and live normal lives, becoming productive members of their communities in the process.
Sadly, majority of children born with clubfeet in the developing world have little access to treatment and minimal financial resources.
This is what nonprofit organization Miraclefeet aims to resolve by supporting the treatment of children born with clubfeet in “third world” countries such as the Philippines.
Miraclefeet was created in 2008 by a group of concerned parents of clubfeet children and orthopedic surgeons who wanted to ensure that all children born with the defect had access to proper treatment.
The North Carolina-based organization partners with local orthopedic surgeons working in public hospitals to establish and support clubfeet clinics within the existing public health system.
According to program manager for Asia Ryan Calauor, Miraclefeet believes this is the most effective, efficient and sustainable approach to prevent the significant disability caused by untreated clubfeet around the world.
Calauor told Panay News that at present here in the Philippines, Miraclefeet is supporting children in Cebu, Davao and Iloilo.
It is also extending assistance to the West Visayas State University Medical Center (WVSUMC) through its Department of Orthropedics headed by Dr. Benjamin Legada in providing services to children with clubfeet.
Aside from free consultation, Dr. Legada said they are also willing to provide fare and allowance to parents who are too poor to even bring their children affected with clubfeet to the hospital.
The program covers children born with clubfeet within two weeks. At this stage, Dr. Legarda explained, the chances of restoring the normal functions of the feet through surgical procedure is higher.
We urge people interested to contact Dr. Legada at the Department of Orthopedics of WVSUMC on E. Lopez St., Jaro, Iloilo City./PN
