By Sarah Baafi
Families and health workers have been urged to prioritise the early detection of clubfoot in newborns, as experts warn that delayed identification continues to contribute to avoidable disability among children across Ghana.
Esther Esi Gyekye, Clinical Programme Coordinator for the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) and Hope Walks, made the call during an interview on the GTV Breakfast Show, where she highlighted how timely screening, referral and treatment can transform the lives of affected children.
Clubfoot is a congenital condition in which a baby’s foot is twisted inward and downward. While the cause is largely unknown, it can be effectively treated when identified early using the Ponseti method, a globally recognised non-surgical approach.
According to Ms Gyekye, early identification often begins immediately after birth. She stressed that midwives play a critical role in examining newborns’ feet during routine post-delivery care.
“After birth, midwives should carefully examine the baby’s feet during routine care because clubfoot may sometimes be missed,” she noted, adding that healthcare workers should assess whether the foot can be straightened or remains fixed in a deformed position.
She explained that, in some cases, a simple attempt to correct the foot can help confirm suspicion. “If an attempt is made to correct the foot and it returns to the deformed position, then it may indicate a possible case of clubfoot,” she said.
Once identified, children are referred to specialised treatment centres under the CHAG–Hope Walks programme, where trained clinicians assess the severity of the condition using a structured scoring system.
Ms Gyekye further emphasised that most cases are idiopathic, meaning the children are otherwise healthy and the deformity is isolated to the foot. However, she noted that early diagnosis is often missed because newborns naturally have flexed limbs.
Beyond clinical treatment, she highlighted the emotional burden on families, stressing the importance of counselling as part of the care process. Parents, she said, often struggle with shock, guilt or misconceptions following a diagnosis.
“Some parents may feel depressed, blame themselves or believe it is a curse or something they did wrong,” she said, adding that counselling helps families understand that clubfoot is not caused by parental actions and is fully treatable.
Under the programme, treatment follows the Ponseti method, which involves serial casting, a possible minor surgical intervention (tenotomy), and the long-term use of foot abduction braces to maintain correction until about age five.
Ms Gyekye explained that, with strict adherence to treatment, children can recover fully and live normal lives, including walking, running, playing and attending school without limitations.
She also stressed that early intervention reduces treatment duration and improves outcomes, urging parents to seek medical attention immediately after noticing any abnormal foot position in a newborn.
The CHAG–Hope Walks initiative continues to provide free treatment for children under five at selected health facilities across Ghana, combining clinical care with counselling and community education to reduce stigma and improve early detection.
