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- Host annual South African
seminars and workshops on the Ponseti Technique
and other developments in treatment. Doctors
from the US, Canada and UK would provide training
for South African doctors and medical support
staff (physiotherapists, podiatrists, etc.).
These seminars would also be open to doctors
from neighbouring countries like Namibia and
Mozambique, where the need for information is
as urgent.
- Work with the Health Department to change
guidelines for treatment of conditions like
congenital clubfoot in state hospitals and to
implement rollout to rural hospitals. We would
base this on successful programs in Uganda and
Malawi initiated by international charities
and doctors. This would be proudly South African
- by South Africans, for South Africans.
- Design and print multi-language and visual
information leaflets for display and distributions
at hospitals and clinics throughout South Africa.
There are examples already done for Uganda and
Malawi that we would use as reference.
- Provide the splints (corrective shoes attached
to a bar) which are expensive, but crucial to
prevent relapse of treated clubfoot. Funds raised
would help to finance these splints for patients
who don't have medical aid or the money to keep
replacing them until the child is 3 to 4 years
of age.
- A long-term project to manufacture cost-effective
shoes in South Africa. This would be a self-help
project to provide employment for shoemakers
to make shoes at a fraction of the imported
price of shoes from the USA. A similar project
implemented in Uganda in 2000 has been very
successful.
- Expand our website to contain information
and support on all types of hip and lower limb
conditions in babies and children (with the
help of Steps UK).
- Provide transport costs - 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.
- As the best care is still only available in
the main centres, (especially Johannesburg when
it comes to the Ponseti Method for clubfoot),
we need to provide accommodation facilities
for out of town families who come to the cities
for treatment with their children. Treatment
takes at least 3-4 weeks and it is impossible
for a family without sufficient funds to stay
somewhere for that length of time, unless they
have family in Johannesburg. We would initially
rent a house, but the long-term plan is to buy
a Steps House to accommodate these families
in a homely atmosphere. This home would need
to be fitted with furniture, linen, kitchen
facilities - and basic food to care for the
families who have no financial backing. Currently
the Steps CEO provides accommodation at her
own home for some patients who come for treatment
from other towns.
- Develop Ponseti Clubfoot
Clinics in the major centres in each province
dedicated to providing well-trained specialists,
support medical support and information for
parents. This is a concept that has worked in
Uganda and Malawi, some of them have accommodation
facilities provided in-house at the clinics.
South Africa is lagging behind in the treatment
of its clubfoot children. Many who are in the
state hospital system stay unnecessarily in
plaster casts for up to 9 months to a year waiting
for surgery that is unnecessary in most cases.
The Ponseti method corrects clubfoot in over
95% of patients within 4-6 weeks. Not only is
it the best treatment developed, it is cost-effective
and ideal for South African rural areas.
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