A Dedicated Team Bringing Hope, Healing and Mobility
We are privileged to partner with incredible clubfoot clinics across South Africa, and one of
these is the Victoria Mxenge Hospital Clubfoot Clinic in KwaZulu-Natal. This clinic serves
families from across Durban and as far as Port Shepstone and Stanger, ensuring that
children born with clubfoot can access expert, compassionate care close to home.
Every Monday a group of real-life heroes change the course of childhoods. Each one plays a
vital role in helping children walk, run, and play with confidence. The clinic is led by Dr
Arushka Naidoo, with mentorship from Prof MN Rasool. Our dedicated STEPS Clinic
Coordinator, Nirasha Ramessur, plays a key role in caregiver education, data tracking and
creating a warm, supportive clinic environment for families.
Clinic Impact: January to December 2025
• New patients enrolled: 51
• Total patient clinic visits supported: 799
• Total children in treatment: 208
These numbers represent journeys of courage and transformation. Every cast applied, every
conversation with a family, every brace fitted, brings another child closer to walking,
running and playing freely.
The heart of this clinic is its people. Their teamwork, resilience and commitment are what
make the Ponseti method successful for their patients.
Dr. Arushka Naidoo says:
“The clinic has seen successful treatment with Ponseti casts despite challenges with staff
shortages and shortage of boots for the maintenance phase. The dedicated Ponseti trained
nursing staff are the backbone of the clinic, and have adapted to casting the large number of
patients with atypical and complex clubfeet that are referred to us.”
STEPS Clinic and Data Coordinator Nirasha Ramessu shares:
“What’s our talent you ask? We help children born with clubfoot overcome their physical
challenges so that they can run, walk and play like every other child. We provide clubfoot
treatment to patients that are referred from the surrounding clinics and hospitals in Durban,
covering areas from Port Shepstone Hospitals all the way to Stanger Hospital. This ensures
that we reach as many clubfoot patients as possible.
Every supehero story has the driving force, the leaders. We are privileged to have Prof MN
Rasool and Dr Arushka Naidoo who provide their expert knowledge in the Ponseti treatment
of Clubfoot.”
Partnership is at the heart of our model. With STEPS providing caregiver education, data
collection, clinic coordination, and training support, and the hospital delivering skilled
clinical care, families receive a level of support that improves adherence and long-term
outcomes.
This clinic embodies what is possible when committed professionals, empowered caregivers
and strong partnerships come together: children thrive.
We are deeply grateful to the clinic team, hospital leadership and our donors who make it
possible for STEPS to support this life-changing work.
Together, we are helping children born with clubfoot grow into confident, mobile young
people.
