STEPS' Objectives

  • Build South African Ponseti Clubfoot Clinic Centres of Excellence in major centres dedicated to providing well-trained specialists, support and information for parents, training and research facilities. Partnering with private healthcare, the clinics would also provide limited accommodation for out of town families who would need to stay for 3-4 weeks to complete treatment.
  • Organise South African seminars and workshops on the Ponseti Technique for clubfoot. Provide ongoing training for South African doctors and medical support staff (physiotherapists, podiatrists, etc.). These seminars would also be open to doctors from neighbouring countries Namibia, Mozambique, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Swaziland.
  • Host on-line support groups for parents, using internet and mobinet in association with our media partners. Host on-line information group for local Ponseti doctors.
  • Raise awareness of clubfoot and other lower limb disorders. Develop media campaigns and create media partnerships.
  • Work with the South African Ministry of Health to change guidelines for treatment of congenital clubfoot in state hospitals. We would base this on successful programs in Uganda and Malawi initiated by international charities working with government and doctors.
  • Design and print multi-language and visual information leaflets and posters on clubfoot diagnosis and treatment. These would be for display and distribution at hospitals and clinics throughout South Africa.
  • Source and distribute donated foot abduction braces which are crucial to prevent clubfoot relapse and must be worn by patients until at least four years of age.
  • Manufacture cost-effective shoes in South Africa. This would be a self-help project to provide employment for artisans to make shoes at a fraction of the price of imported shoes. A similar project implemented in Uganda in 2000 has been very successful.
  • Fundraise to provide transport assistance - taxi fare, flights, bus fares - whatever is needed by the parents in rural areas to assist them in getting their children to the main centres for treatment.