'Over 2,000 babies born with clubfoot defects annually'

HEALTH   CLUBFOOT

Over 2,000 babies are born with clubfoot in Uganda every year, Dr Moses Muhumuza, an expert at the Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services Uganda (CoRSU) in Entebbe, has said.

Muhumuza added that clubfoot is a common type of birth defect that affects muscles and bones in the feet. Instead of being straight, a clubfoot points down and turns in.

"This twisting causes the toes to point toward the opposite leg. A baby can be born with the defect in one or both feet.

A clubfoot is not painful and won't cause health problems until a child begins to stand and walk," he said.

He added that if the clubfoot defect is not treated, it can lead to serious problems and even make a child unable to walk.

"It is very important to begin correcting it quickly, ideally a week or two after birth," he added.

He said the defect is usually found on an ultrasound around the 20th week of pregnancy. If not, it is diagnosed when a baby is born.

Muhumuza made the remarks during the celebrations to mark the 50,000 operations that have been done at CoRSU hospital recently.

Muhumuza said 70 children have undergone surgery at CoRSU hospital since the year began. A baby with clubfoot is treated by an orthopaedic surgeon and doctors focus on conditions of the bones, muscles and joints," Muhumuza said. 

Muhumuza said the defect happens because the tendons and muscles in and around the foot are shorter than usual.

Miraclefeet regional manager, Marieke Dreise, said their main goal is to ensure that every child born with clubfeet is referred right after birth and that he or she gets quality treatment. She encouraged parents who have children with such problems to take them to the hospitals for treatment.

"We trained midwives in 24 hospitals in Uganda on how to conduct a complete new-born examination to identify birth defects," she added.

Miraclefeet, in partnership with (CoRSU) hospital, are working in 24 referral hospitals, including Kitovu, Luwero, Jinja, Mbale, Kabale, Mbarara and Mulago hospital.

Robina Nampeera, 30, a resident of Ndejje in Wakiso district, said she gave birth normally in September, but she was later told that her baby had clubfeet and was advised to go to CoRSU for surgery. She says the boy has gone through the treatment and is now fine.