return to CURE.org home →

About Clubfoot

What is Clubfoot?

Clubfoot is a congenital deformity that severely twists the foot downward and inward, making walking difficult or impossible. It is a curable condition, and the treatment is inexpensive.

1 out of every 1000 children born worldwide suffers from clubfoot

OVER 220,000 CHILDREN in developING countries are born with clubfoot A YEAR. In the UNITED STATES ALONE, ABOUT 4,000 children each year are born with the deformity.

Children born with clubfoot

more developed world: 20%

developing world: 80%

The developing world bears 80% of the disease burden and allocates less than 10% to healthcare cost.

Has little chance

A child born with clubfoot in the developing world has little chance of being a productive, contributing adult.

boys are twice as likely to get clubfoot than girls

approximately 50% of cases are bilateral

Clubfoot Treatment

CURE's clubfoot program utilizes a non-surgical treatment procedure known as the Ponseti method, a specific method of manipulation to stretch contracted ligaments, tenotomy (under local anesthesia), bracing, and follow-up visits. This 6-8 week long process casts the foot gradually into the correct position. During treatment each week, the cast is removed and replaced with a new cast that incrementally moves the foot into the correct position. In the majority of clubfoot cases, children under two can have a clubfoot corrected with no surgical intervention. There is minimal scarring and bone development is not hindered, and the result is mobile, pain-free, flexible feet.

The Ponseti method for clubfoot treatment is nearly100% effective

Before

&

after

Cure clubfoot countries

Honduras

Honduras

  • 8,296,693 population
  • 910 children treated
  • 866 castings annually
  • 154 annual patients
  • 19 clinics
  • 52 staff trained

CCW Honduras began operations in 2007 in Leonardo Martinez, and in 2009 Cure Honduras Hospital was built, becoming the central clinic of the program. Cure Clubfoot Honduras has successfully established an effective treatment network throughout the country and the Ponseti Method is now the accepted method of clubfoot treatment in Honduras.

 Dominican Republic

Dominican Republic

  • 9,378,818 population
  • 969 children treated
  • 1,119 castings annually
  • 231 annual patients
  • 8 clinics
  • 30 staff trained

CCW Dominican Republic began in 2007 with two clinics, and now has eight clinics around the country. We now operate in poor regions of our country, especially in the south area in the border with Haiti. It was once normal to see old people with clubfeet begging on the street, but now it is very rare. Families are now sending their clubfoot babies to us just with days of age.

 Haiti

Haiti

  • 9,801,664 population
  • 855 children treated
  • 1,191 castings annually
  • 163 annual patients
  • 6 clinics
  • 129 staff trained

CCW Haiti program was originally set up as a small component of CCW Dominican Republic, but all of the clinics were either destroyed or severely disrupted in the earthquake of January 2010. It was re-established as a Haiti based program in 2011, and the program is moving toward having a truly nationwide presence with treatment available in every region and population center.

 Niger

Niger

  • 17,078,839 population
  • 243 children treated
  • 693 castings annually
  • 112 annual patients
  • 10 clinics
  • 57 staff trained

CCW Niger officially began in February 2011. With the efforts given on sensitization, the program is growing, and we have been able to treat over 180 clubfoot patients since it began. Since we involve public hospitals, we have a good relationship with the Ministry of Health. With their approval, we have opened public health centers doors to the program.

 Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone

  • 5,485,998 population
  • 93 children treated
  • 244 castings annually
  • TBD annual patients
  • 5 clinics
  • 30 staff trained

CCW Sierra Leone began in December 2011 with three clinics. In March 2012, a medical and counseling training was conducted and two more clinics opened within months. There are 25 paramedical staff trained in the Ponseti Method, and 6 in family counseling. Today, there are five clinics in all operating across the country and over 50 children with clubfoot deformity treated.

 Ghana

Ghana

  • 25,241,998 population
  • 2,859 children treated
  • 8,975 castings annually
  • 1,007 annual patients
  • 16 clinics
  • 142 staff trained

CCW Ghana began in May 2008, initially as 2 clinics, and now is made up of 12 clinics. Coordination of the program has improved significantly, and one of the strengths of this program is that there is a clinical supervisor who ensures that there is quality of care for patients undergoing treatment at the clubfoot clinics.

 Togo

Togo

  • 6,364,507 population
  • 149 children treated
  • 623 castings annually
  • TBD annual patients
  • 4 clinics
  • 38 staff trained

Initial medical training and clinic treatment began in the last quarter of calendar year 2011. Between that time and the end of June 2012, four clinic locations are operational. Through the efforts of staff involved with this program a total of 90 new patients have been enrolled for treatment through June 2012.

 DRC

DRC

  • 73,599,190 population
  • 797 children treated
  • 4,180 castings annually
  • TBD annual patients
  • 11 clinics
  • 121 staff trained

Established in October 2011, this country program has seen 11 clinics become part the effort. Recent instability of certain regions have hampered training efforts, and we are working with staff to monitor the situation for prudent level of continued efforts. Through June 2012, 488 new patients have been enrolled in the program for treatment.

 Rwanda

Rwanda

  • 11,689,696 population
  • 1,964 children treated
  • 6,850 castings annually
  • 659 annual patients
  • 22 clinics
  • 101 staff trained

CCW Rwanda began with 13 clinics trained in November 2009, and in September 2010, 9 more clinics have been trained. Since November 2009, over 1,497 cases have been treated by the Ponseti methos among the different clinics. CCW Rwanda expects around 510 new cases of clubfoot every year. It is a small country, with a good road network creating ease of travel.

 Burundi

Burundi

  • 10,557,259 population
  • 172 children treated
  • 959 castings annually
  • TBD annual patients
  • 4 clinics
  • 21 staff trained

CCW Burundi began in October 2011 with 2 clinics. We are working in partnership with the Ministry of Health and received our approbation to get supplied from CAMEBU. The program has established a partnership with a Clinic in Bujumbura for Tenotomies.

 Zambia

Zambia

  • 14,309,466 population
  • 2,780 children treated
  • 3,623 castings annually
  • 710 annual patients
  • 16 clinics
  • 125 staff trained

CCW Zambia began in 2008, has since grown to fifteen clinics country wide, and is still growing. Our partners are giving the clubfoot project in Zambia the publicity it deserves, so that no child born with clubfoot is left without the needed treatment. We have treated more than 2,300 children born with clubfoot, and will not rest until the program covers the entire country.

 Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe

  • 12,619,600 population
  • 169 children treated
  • 798 castings annually
  • TBD annual patients
  • 2 clinics
  • 55 staff trained

Since mid-2011 CURE Clubfoot Worldwide (CCW) is partnering with the Zimbabwe Sustainable Clubfoot Programme which is headed by physiotherapists from Zimbabwe. CCW has increased its support from training and employing counselors to subsidizing training and other aspects of the growing program.

 Malawi

Malawi

  • 16,323,044 population
  • 4,438 children treated
  • 5,474 castings annually
  • 1,089 annual patients
  • 28 clinics
  • 256 staff trained

CCW Malawi was launched in 2007 with 4 clinics, treating a little over 100 patients. Now, we have 29 clinics treating over 4000 patients. Due to intensive training, the clinicians have managed to reduce the number of casts from 14-15 to correct a clubfoot to about 7.

 Kenya

Kenya

  • 43,013,341 population
  • 5,744 children treated
  • 6,147 castings annually
  • 942 annual patients
  • 37 clinics
  • 349 staff trained

Clubfoot care for Kenya was started in October, 2005, and what started as a pilot project has evolved to a countrywide program with a network of 37 clinics spread through out the country. By end of May 2012, the program had enrolled a total of 4882 patients and treated over 7000 feet. Hitherto, a total of 267 medical officers have been trained.

 Ethiopia

Ethiopia

  • 84,320,987 population
  • 4,243 children treated
  • 3,000 castings annually
  • 1,023 annual patients
  • 26 clinics
  • 376 staff trained

CCW Ethiopia began in 2006 with 9 clinics across the country. Most of the clinics are established in government hospitals. These hospitals have MOU with CURE to provide the service and in the long run to take over the clubfoot activity as a regular hospital activity.

 India

India

  • 1.22 Billion population
  • 6,994 children treated
  • 13,708 castings annually
  • 2,811 annual patients
  • 110 clinics
  • 367 staff trained

CCW India began in 2008, and currently has dozens of clinics scattered throughout seven different states and territories. In India it is estimated between 40,000 and 50,000 children are born with clubfoot every year, and our goal is to eventually eradicate the disability. Through the support of our partner organizations, we are able to provide treatment at no cost to the family of the child.

 Afghanistan

Afghanistan

  • 30,419,928 population
  • 118 children treated
  • 138 castings annually
  • 27 annual patients
  • 1 clinics
  • 0 staff trained

CURE International Hospital of Kabul is one of the leading medical institutions in Afghanistan. The hospital represents many things to many people. For children with physical disabilities, it is where they can be made whole. For healthcare professionals, it is a center of medical excellence where they can receive advanced training and education. For the nation, it is a source of hope.

 Cambodia

Cambodia

  • 14,952,665 population
  • 1,017 children treated
  • 663 castings annually
  • 153 annual patients
  • 10 clinics
  • 128 staff trained

CCW Cambodia began in 2007, and currently 45 health care professionals from provinces around the country are participating, learning how to permanently correct clubfoot without surgery. There is an encouraging presence of government officials and workers from other NGOs like the International Red Cross, Handicap International, and World Vision.

Worldwide

  • 7.45 billion population
  • 34,615 children treated
  • 187,064 total castings
  • 11,800 annual patients
  • 291 clinics
  • 1,689 staff trained

The vision of CURE Clubfoot is to eradicate clubfoot in the developing world by working in partnership with number of other international NGO's, the donor community, and in-country partners to establish countrywide clubfoot treatment programs in the 100 largest developing countries over the next ten years.

*As of June 30, 2012

CURE Clubfoot

Leadership Team

CURE Clubfoot

for donors

Q: What can $250* do?

A: Straightens a child's first steps

Every gift of

$250*

to our clubfoot program

ALLOWS US TO HEAL ANOTHER CHILD WHO'S LIFE WILL NEVER HAVE TO BE AFFLICTED WITH THIS HORRIBLE DISABILITY.

Chances are

THE CHILD WILL NEVER EVEN REMEMBER THEIR TREATMENT

AND WILL NEVER EXPERIENCE THE DIFFICULTY LIVING IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD WITH A DISABILITY.

*Total cost of the process from start to finish

CURE Blog

Follow the latest updates on how children are being transformed by CURE

RSS Feed more from the CURE Blog »