Health Workers Trained to Boost Early Detection and Treatment of Clubfoot

Twenty-two health workers have been trained on the early detection and referral of clubfoot cases for treatment at specialised centres using the Ponseti technique, a non-surgical method that is most effective in children aged 0 to 2 years. The one-day training, organised by the CBC Health Services’ Cameroon Clubfoot Care Program (CCCP), took place on April 29, 2026, at the Bagangté Health District Office. It brought together nurses and midwives from health facilities within and around the Bagangte Health district.

Welcoming participants, the District Medical Officer (DMO) of Bagangté Health District, Dr. Tankeng Emilienne, expressed gratitude to CBC Health Services and its partners for selecting her district for the training. She described the initiative as both timely and necessary, noting a growing need for improved identification and referral of children with clubfoot. According to her, four cases are currently undergoing treatment at the Bagangté District Hospital, an indication that many more children in the community may still need to be identified and referred to prevent lifelong disability.

During the training, participants received knowledge on the anatomy of clubfoot, the integration of clubfoot-related activities into primary healthcare, and child safeguarding in clubfoot management. Emphasis was placed on equipping frontline health workers with the skills to identify the condition early and ensure swift referral for treatment. Children diagnosed with clubfoot in Bagangte Health District will receive care at the Bagangté District Hospital, with technical support from specialists at the Baptist Hospital Bafoussam clubfoot treatment clinic.

The four children currently undergoing treatment at the Bagangte District Hospital were brought to the training venue to demonstrate the appearance of the condition and the effectiveness of the ponseti technique in correcting the deformity. Participants expressed satisfaction with the knowledge gained, and committed to apply their new skills to screen all newborns, raise community awareness, and actively identify and refer children with the condition for treatment.

In her closing remarks, Dr. Tankeng reiterated her appreciation for the training and expressed confidence that it would significantly improve the detection of clubfoot cases in the district. She highlighted that many cases have previously gone unnoticed due to limited awareness and pledged to ensure that the knowledge gained is shared with other health workers through district coordination meetings.

The training was facilitated by the CCCP Project Officer, (PO) Ngeh Gaius, and the Head of the Bafoussam Baptist Hospital Clubfoot Clinic, Tchouankue Sylviane.

Clubfoot is a deformity in which a child is born with one or both feet turned inward, preventing them from being placed flat on the ground. The Cameroon Clubfoot Care Program activities funded by Hope and Healing International are implemented in 8 Regions of Cameroon for a five-year period targeting 2180 children for treatment in 32 specialised treatment clinics. The training was one of measures to scale up access to effective treatment.