Parents motivated to adhere to Treatment of their Children with Clubfoot Deformities
Parents of 14 children currently undergoing clubfoot treatment at the Nkwen Baptist Hospital Clubfoot Clinic have expressed satisfaction and gratitude to the CBC Health Services and Its funding partner Hope and healing International for the successful treatment outcomes of their children.
The parents congregated at the Clubfoot Clinic on November 30, 2024 for the clinic’s first support group meeting. Within the context of the Comprehensive Clubfoot Program in Cameroon (CCPC) each of the more than 22 clubfoot clinics has a clinic day each week. During the correction phase of a typical clubfoot deformity, parents bring the child to the clinic every week for 5 to 6 weeks. During the maintenance phase, the parents come periodically (monthly or quarterly) on the clinicians’ instructions based on treatment outcomes.
The parents support group meeting is an activity of the CCPC with the aim of bringing to the clinic on the same day all parents whose children are undergoing treatment at the clinic no matter the stage of treatment. The aim of the activity is for experience sharing and support of one another among parents of children with clubfoot aimed at reducing occurrence of relapse.
During the Nkwen Baptist Hospital Clinic, the clinic head, Pawa Abigail welcomed and thanked the parents for turning up for the meeting. She told them that they were all brought together to commune, encourage and support each other to comply to the treatment protocol.
During the meeting, five parents whose children’s feet have been corrected and they are at the bracing stage were given the opportunity to share the experiences of their delivery of children with clubfoot and their treatment journey at the clinic.
One of the parents, Ouiniva Nembo said, when she came to the clinic anxious and not sure of the outcome of her son’s treatment. After the initial education on the treatment process, her encounter with and encouragement from women whose children were older in treatment, she was assured and motivated. Her son’s feet have been corrected and he is now on braces (special shoes worn to maintain the foot in the corrected position) and she is excited to share her testimony.
For her part, Stephanie Mungwi recounted that after several attempts in a health facility and then at a traditional practitioner because of the stigma and shame associated with her son’s deformity, she was finally referred to the Nkwen Baptist Hospital Clinic. She explained that when she came she was encouraged as she saw other mothers with children being treated of the same condition as her son. With a broad smile she said today she is happy her son’s feet have been corrected he is in the maintenance phase. She qualified her attempts at other places as a total waste of time and resources. Both mothers encouraged parents whose children’s treatment is still starting not to relent efforts in adhering to instructions and in respecting appointments as in due time their children’s feet will be fully corrected.
One of the parents, Jacenta Tohjeah whose child was still in the second week of treatment, promised to meticulously honour all appointments and follow all instructions, thanks to the testimonies of the above mothers.
During the meeting, the parents also watched with keen attention a doodle animated documentary which has been produced by the program on the stages of clubfoot treatment and used for adherence counseling.
The CCPC Safeguarding Officer, Mrs. Boyo Maurine schooled the parents on the rights of children undergoing treatment and the need for their safety and wellbeing to be ensured at community and facility levels. She encouraged them to act like advocates for the treatment of children born with clubfoot in their communities and to report any cases of abuse of their children at the level of the clinic.
The parents were also briefed on the activities and role of Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) Field workers in the treatment process of their children by one of the CBR Field Workers, Joyceline Ngum. She told them that they follow up the children at community levels to ensure that the parents adhere to instructions given at the clinic.
The CCCP is a one-year program implemented in 6 regions of Cameroon with funding from Hope and Healing International.
