Mum NGO providing free treatment for clubfoot cases

Prayagraj: A Mumbai-based NGO, Anushka Foundation, is offering free treatment to kids born with congenital deformity called clubfoot (a condition where one or both feet are twisted inwards) in all 75 districts of the state.

The NGO supports these kids as part of the National Health Programme.

According to data provided by the foundation, an average of 82 children with clubfoot are born every year in Prayagraj. This is the second highest in the state after Lakhimpur Kheri, where the average is around 85 cases annually.

Clubfoot affects approximately one in every 800 newborns, making early diagnosis and treatment essential.

"In Prayagraj, we have catered to around 400 kids in the last five years, out of which around 100 are fully treated and 300 are under treatment," said the local representative of the organisation, Vikrant Vishwas.

Treatment is available for kids as young as 15-day-old to 2-year-old, he added.

Under the NHM, free treatment for children with clubfoot is provided in Prayagraj at Beli Hospital every Saturday and Colvin Hospital every Thursday, in collaboration with the Anushka Foundation.

"Timely intervention, ideally within the first week of birth, is critical for successful treatment and to avoid long-term disability," said Vikrant. Due to factors such as changing lifestyles, genetic predispositions, and environmental influences, more children are being diagnosed with this condition shortly after birth, he said.

Vikrant said the number of cases is showing an upward trend. He said 65 children were born with clubfoot in 2021–22 in Prayagraj, which rose to 88 in 2022–23, and further increased to 92 in 2023–24, a jump of 27 cases over three years. Currently, about 10–12 new children seek treatment at the hospitals each month, while around 60 others continue with follow-up care over a period ranging from one week to five years.

Dr Radheshyam Maurya of Beli Hospital said clubfoot is usually identified immediately after birth, characterized by the toes being turned inward or even appearing upside down. The root causes can be complex and include factors like smoking during pregnancy, maternal infections and insufficient amniotic fluid. Affected families can reach out for assistance by contacting the helpline number 9136945505.

Senior orthopaedic specialist at Beli Hospital, Dr Ajay Rajpal, said untreated clubfoot can lead to permanent physical disability.

"It's a serious congenital defect. If left untreated, it severely hampers the child's mobility and quality of life. Treatment typically includes a structured plan involving multiple plaster casts applied over time, usually seven to eight sessions and surgery, if necessary," he said.