The Positive Care and Development Foundation (PCDF) has announced that at least 10,000 babies are born with clubfoot in Nigeria each year.
Dr Esse Nwakanma, the PCDF programme coordinator, revealed this information at a press briefing held in Minna to mark World Clubfoot Day. She added that globally, an estimated 200,000 babies, or 1 in 800 births, are affected by clubfoot annually.
Being the most common musculoskeletal birth defect, it is a major cause of preventable physical disability. Dr Nwakanma stated that the PCDF is partnering with the global organisation MiracleFeet to provide free clubfoot treatment for children in Niger and Kwara States.
He said, “In Nigeria, it is estimated that more than 10,000 children are born with clubfoot each year. Positive Care and Development Foundation (PCDF) collaborate with MiracleFeet to see that children with clubfoot can access this Care in their locality “.
He said, “PCDF has currently enrolled and retained 142 clubfoot children in care across 8 facilities including Federal Medical Centre Bida and the IBB Specialist Hospital Minna “.
Dr Osho Francis, Head Consultant of the Orthopaedic Department at IBB Specialist Hospital Minna, emphasised that the defect can be effectively treated and corrected early in life, ideally between 0 and 5 years of age.
