Without Clubfoot Care, Kids are in Pain
Each year, more than 1,000 children in Cameroon are born with clubfoot.
Too many children with clubfoot face a future of pain as they walk increasingly on the side or top of their foot. They’re left behind, unable to walk to school or run with friends. These children need medical treatment that includes plaster casts and braces to straighten their feet.
Our proven and trusted partner, Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services (CBCHS) is expanding their clubfoot program to serve children born with clubfoot in 6 of 10 regions across Cameroon. They have the trained medical staff, but they don’t have enough quality Plaster of Paris for serial casting or enough braces required for clubfoot treatment.
If the team doesn’t have the materials they need, they won’t be able to keep up with the need. Today, they are asking us to help them build their own local Brace Manufacturing Workshop to serve more kids with clubfoot.
The Impact of Early Intervention
Step 1
Finding and identifying children early, as soon after birth as possible, improves outcomes for the child.
Step 2
Stretching and a series of casts gently repositions the child’s foot.
Step 1
Finding and identifying children early, as soon after birth as possible, improves outcomes for the child.
Step 2
Stretching and a series of casts gently repositions the child’s foot.
Step 3
Foot Abductor Braces are worn continuously for the first 3 months, and then gradually the time is reduced to overnight.
Step 4
If treated early, children born with clubfoot grow up with straight, strong feet.
Step 3
Foot Abductor Braces are worn continuously for the first 3 months, and then gradually the time is reduced to overnight.
Step 4
If treated early, children born with clubfoot grow up with straight, strong feet.
The Plan and Budget Breakdown
CBCHS has already identified an ideal space at one of their network hospitals on which to build a clubfoot Brace Manufacturing Workshop.
Renovation Budget $113,304
CBCHS has submitted a list of equipment and tools required to make quality braces – things like cutting dices, leather knives, specialized hammers.
Equipment Budget $130,709
The project will select 2 technicians with skills in leather work to undergo a 1-month training at a quality Brace Manufacturing Workshop in Uganda. All costs associated with travel and living during the required period will be covered by the project.
Training Budget $13,923
CBCHS has a goal of treating 950 children in 2026. To do this, they need to procure and distribute the raw materials to make 1,500 braces and to provide 6-8 casts for all 950 children.
Raw Materials Budget $98,181