Liberia will today, June 3, join other countries across the world to celebrate world club foot day under the theme: “Together We Can Minimize Club foot.”
Club foot (also called talipes) is where a baby is born with a foot or feet that turn in and under. Early treatment should correct it. In club foot, 1 foot or both feet point down and inwards with the sole of the foot facing backwards.
Today’s program, which will be held in the courtyard of the Ministry of Health in Congo Town, outside Monrovia, is expected to bring together health workers, participants from the various sectors, national and international partners, members of the legislature and patients of the club foot disease.
June 3, is a day celebrated worldwide every year to commentate memory of the man, who according to research, formulated treatment for the disease.
The keynote speaker for today’s ceremony is Lofa County District #5 Representatives, Augustine B. Chiewolo, who accordingly, the brain behind finding solutions as to how the disease can be treated, and or minimize in the country.
Chiewolo, a medical practitioner, is the House’ co-chair on health.
He told this newspaper that the issue of treating club foot in the country over years was one of serious problems the health sector has faced.
He said, the country can now boost of success stories of the treatment for club foot patients across the country.
Rep. Chiewolo: “Club foot is a disease that is usually cause from birth. It is also caused the foot to be deformed, and if not treated on time, it is likely to endangered the livelihood of the patient (s) by remining deformed for life.”
Due to his passion to help deliver children from such a disease, the lawmaker also developed an organization, The Club Foot Program, which according to him, has catered to over thousands of children from across the country.
The program is currently in 12 of the 15 counties, making sure every child born with club foot is treated “free of charge.”
He said the organization is currently collaborating with the Ministry of Health and the Faith Clinical Alternative Rehabilitation Center (FACORC) to ensure that every child born with club foot is treated and cured.