Engaging partners in the clubfoot program Togo

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Extract from the article: Clubfoot, a congenital malformation affecting around one in a thousand newborns, requires an integrated, multidisciplinary therapeutic approach. The management of this malformation does not rely solely on medical care, but requires the involvement of

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Clubfoot, a congenital malformation affecting around one in a thousand newborns, requires an integrated, multidisciplinary therapeutic approach. The management of this malformation does not rely solely on medical care, but requires the involvement of various partners to ensure optimal follow-up and harmonious development of the child. As part of its support for the implementation of the activities of the project entitled: «Prise en charge précoce du Pied bot au Togo», a project launched since 2011, the Programme des Incapacités, Traumatismes/Prévention et de la Réadaptation (PITR), organized a working meeting with the partners of the pied bot Togo program on Friday, September 20, 2024. The aim of the meeting was to encourage partners to support the program, as well as strategies for early detection and referral of clubfoot children to specialized services.

In its drive to considerably reduce the prevalence of disabilities and promote the rights of disabled people through appropriate care, the Programme des Incapacités Traumatismes/ Prévention et Réadaptation à Base Communautaire (PlTR/ RBC), with funding from CBM, Bureau du Togo and CURE International, has implemented a clubfoot care project in Togo from 2011 to 2019.

The project's proven impact on beneficiaries has met with the satisfaction of the financial partner and the various stakeholders, who have decided to step up their actions. As a result, a new project has been drawn up, entitled “Prise en charge précoce de Pied Bot au Togo” (Early treatment of clubfoot in Togo). This new project will help to reduce physical disability in Togo, but above all it must work to ensure that these activities are integrated into the health system. To achieve this, the intervention of partners such as the stakeholders : DRS, DPS, NGOs/OPH and others.

After two years of implementation of this project, the financial contribution of some parents to the care has not been forthcoming. As a result, the project has been abandoned.After discussions with Miraclefeet, it was agreed to support 5 clinics (CNAO, CRAO-Sokodé, CRAO-Kara, Centre Don Orion and CRAO Dapaong) for fiscal year 2023.Satisfactory results encouraged the partner to support a further three clinics (CHP-Kpalimé, CRAO-Atakpame and the Ordre de Malte d'Elavagnon hospital) for the 2024 fiscal year, and two new clinics (CHP Blitta and CHP Aneho for comprehensive clubfoot care) for the 2025 fiscal year.As part of the implementation of this support, it is essential to inform and encourage other partners to join the Togo clubfoot program. During the meeting, information on clubfoot management in Togo was shared with partners, and discussions were held on the prospects for eradicating this malformation in Togo by 2030, and on the activities of community-based rehabilitation (BIDC) in Togo.

According to Tokpessa Lakna, PITR Program Manager, «clubfoot deformity is a painful reality for many children in Togo, preventing them from walking properly and exposing them to social stigmatization.This physical handicap can also have repercussions on their social integration, education and future access to employment.So we want to mobilize stakeholders such as :DRS, DPS, NGOs/OPH, organizations and associations of health corporations to raise awareness of this malformation and make people understand that treatment is free.These structures and organizations must contribute to changing the destiny of these children, offering them a chance to live a more normal and fulfilling life ».

The most important thing is to treat this malformation at an early age, to avoid complications later on and enable children to grow up without the constraints imposed by “clubfoot”. By identifying and treating these cases, PITR and its partners will take a significant step towards the inclusion and dignity of these children in society. Thanks to everyone's commitment and mobilization, it is possible to transform lives and offer these children the chance to walk with dignity.

William O.