The CBC Health Services joined other clubfoot treatment stakeholders in Cameroon and across the world to celebrate World Clubfoot Day on June 3, 2025. The event, which was organised within the framework of the Cameroon Clubfoot Care Program (CCCP) held at the Bamenda Regional Hospital Multipurpose Hall and spearheaded by the North West Regional Delegation of Public Health and the CBC Health Services. North West Regional Delegate of Public Health, Dr. Ambe Leonel chaired the deliberations

Each year 200,000 children are born with clubfoot deformity across the globe and in Cameroon it is estimated that 1,000 children are born with the deformity. Consequently, the importance of awareness raising for uptake of clubfoot services need not be overemphasized.

The World Clubfoot Day was instituted by the Ponseti International Association (PIA) to honour Dr. Ignacio Ponseti (1914-2009), the developer of the Ponseti Method which is a non-surgical but most effective method of treating the clubfoot deformity and to raise awareness on clubfoot and its treatment. Thus, the day was celebrated this year in Cameroon under the theme, “Integrating clubfoot detection into health district activities for early treatment”.

Speaking during the Bamenda Regional Hospital event, the North West Regional Delegate of Public Health among other things called on all health workers to wholeheartedly commit to the early detection, referral, treatment and reporting of clubfoot in our communities following this year’s theme.

The National Coordinator of the CCCP, Mr. Tamon James, on his part, encouraged all to facilitate access to care by raising awareness, identifying and referring all clubfoot cases in communities for treatment in recognized treatment clinics. He revealed that the Program is looking for possibilities to increase the scope of the project in Cameroon.

The event was attended by the CCCP staff, some Doctors, midwives, nurses of the Bamenda Regional Hospital and more than 20 parents whose children are either undergoing or have completed clubfoot treatment using the ponseti technique at the Nkwen Baptist Hospital and Bamenda Regional Hospital clubfoot treatment clinics. Some parents shared testimonies of their children’s successful treatment. 

In an emotional moment, Edna Christy recounted how she plunged into depression upon discovering that one of her twin children; Mason had clubfoot and she could not rejoice with those who came to celebrate her twin. “My joy was only restored when I saw my son’s feet gradually taking the shape of a normal foot as treatment progressed”. The feet of her son are now fully corrected and maintained with braces.

Ajuh Linda, the mother of 4-year-old Princewill treated of clubfoot said her son’s total treatment has taken away all the shame and stigma she suffered as a result of his deformity. “As you all can see, my son moves normally now and no one can tell his feet were twisted before.”

The event at the Regional Hospital was characterized by presentations on early detection and referral of clubfoot and the impact of the CCCP activities in Cameroon. The presentation on the impact of the CCCP indicated that out of the more than 3000 children treated since 2014 when the Cameroon Clubfoot Care Project just started, 642 are from the Northwest Region.

Speaking earlier to the Staff of the CBC Health Services Central Administration on the occasion of the World Clubfoot Day, the Director of Health Services, Mr. Ngum Samuel challenged them to make judicious use of social media and all social gatherings around them to raise awareness about the deformity and its right treatment method.

The day proper was preceded by weeklong activities including awareness raising in health facilities, community social gatherings, schools, the media among others by project and clinic staff and community Health Workers in all the 6 regions where the Cameroon Clubfoot Care Program activities are being implemented. The CCCP which is supervised by the Ministry of Public Health is funded by Hope and Healing International in the Northwest, West, Southwest, Littoral, Center and Adamawa Regions with treatment provided in 30 official treatment centers.