By Nahum Sule, Jalingo

The Women and Children Health and Empowerment Foundation, WACHEF, joined the global community to commemorate World Clubfoot Day in Taraba State with a call for early detection and treatment of congenital foot deformities in children.

Speaking to journalists after the event, WACHEF Founder, Dr. Garba Danjuma, said the day is set aside to create more awareness on congenital abnormalities that affect children’s feet. He explained that clubfoot is correctable, but when left untreated, it limits children’s mobility, education, and life pursuits.

“This is the first commemoration of its kind in Taraba State in WACHEF’s 25 years of existence,” Danjuma noted. He added that foot abnormalities can severely affect a child’s future if not addressed early.

He revealed that WACHEF, with support from MiracleFeet, a US-based NGO, is now providing free treatment at two centres in the state: the Federal Medical Centre, FMC Jalingo, and the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Wukari.

Danjuma stressed the importance of reporting early cases. “Children with foot challenges should be presented for treatment from age 0 to 5. That is the period with the widest possibility for the deformities to be corrected without major surgery requirement” he said.

He listed key stakeholders in the mission to include the Taraba State Ministry of Health, Taraba State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Persons Living with Disabilities, Traditional leaders, and Community stakeholders who are making critical inputs to expand access to care.

World Clubfoot Day is marked globally every June 3 to raise awareness and advocate for access to treatment for children born with clubfoot.