CCCP upgrades skills of PT Staff on new protocol for Managing Delayed Clubfoot Presentation
Since the start of the Cameroon Clubfoot Care Project (CCCP) in 2014, training and refresher courses to build the capacity of Physiotherapy (PT) staff have contributed to the successful treatment of over 2500 children with clubfoot in Cameroon. Despite this success, many children still live with untreated clubfoot and most physiotherapy staff have recorded some challenges in treating children with Delayed Presentation of Clubfoot. As a result, the number of delayed presentations of clubfoot continues to increase in the community.
It is against this backdrop that the Cameroon Clubfoot Care Project in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health organized a 2-day workshop on the Management of Delayed Presentation of Clubfoot in walking-age children in LK Hotel Limbe. The workshop, which brought together 30 Physiotherapy staff from 22 clubfoot clinics in 6 Regions of Cameroon had as an objective to introduce the protocol for managing clubfoot in walking-age children and improve the capacity of PT staff on the management of clubfoot using the Ponseti method.
The workshop took place from October 26-27, 2023. It was facilitated by the Clinical Supervisor of the CCCP, Dr. Henry Ndasi, and some senior Physiotherapists from some clubfoot clinics who have gained advanced knowledge on the management of clubfoot in older children. For 2 days participants were drilled through a demonstration on how to evaluate and treat children with clubfoot especially children of walking age. They also had the opportunity to watch short videos on tenotomy which is one of the protocols in clubfoot treatment.
One of the unique areas that was new to the participants was rehabilitation in clubfoot. The Supervisor of Physiotherapy services in the CBC Heath Services, Mr. Fanfon Timothy noted that rehabilitation has always been neglected in the treatment of clubfoot because the attention is on the deformity. In his presentation, he emphasized the need and importance of ensuring rehabilitation during and at the end of the treatment.
The lead facilitator, Dr. Ndasi Henry disclosed that the new protocol for the management of delayed presentation clubfoot was introduced by the Global Clubfoot Initiative and its partners to enable PT staff to have a standardized method of assessing, evaluating, and treating children with delayed clubfoot presentation. He said the goal of the training was to equip participants with skills to treat children over two years of age and do referrals for surgery at the appropriate time. ”I expect their performance in treating older children with clubfoot to improve,” Dr. Ndasi noted.
Representing the Ministry of Health (MoH) in the workshop, the Clubfoot Focal Person, Mr. Kort Kinsley underscored that one of the goals of MoH is to reduce correctable disability by 10% by 2027. He noted that clubfoot is one of the health conditions that the Ministry pays close attention to why the Ministry is putting in place strategies to ensure that children with clubfoot are treated. Mr. Kort implored the participants to get to work after the training by identifying and preventing the recurrence of clubfoot cases. He applauded the CBC Health Services and CBM for supporting the MoH in preventing disability resulting from clubfoot.
At the end of the workshop, participants commended CCCP, MoH, and CBM for organizing the workshop which has enhanced their knowledge on managing delayed presentation of clubfoot. They promised to record improved results in treatment better than they did in the past.
In his closing remarks, the Coordinator of the CCCP, Mr. Tamon James called on participants to report to the DHS 2 of the MOH to enable them to make informed decisions.
It is hopeful that as the CCCP joins forces with the MoH, the goal of reducing correctable disability will be attained.