Early intervention for birth deformities specifically Clubfoot

According to the World Health Organization (WHO, Congenital anomalies, which are also called birth defects or congenital malformations, are one of the main causes of the global burden of disabilities. Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are disproportionately affected since the vast majority of congenital disorders—an estimated 94%—occur in these countries. Unfortunately, these areas lack the needed capacity to handle birth defects, including some of the correctable conditions such as clubfoot, leading to more pronounced and long-lasting effects. Even though some of the birth defects, such as clubfoot, can easily be corrected soon after birth, thousands of children in LMICs face the risks associated with a lifetime of disability.

Globally, approximately 200,000 children are born with clubfoot per year. Approximately 90% of children with this condition are born in LMICs where treatment is either unavailable or antiquated. Based on ongoing birth defects surveillance, clubfoot has emerged to be one of the prevalent birth deformities in Kenya. Poor clubfoot care is driven by low awareness about clubfoot, little ownership and prioritization by governments and global donors, and a lack of systems needed to deliver effective care.

Inadequate clubfoot treatment causes devastating consequences to the individual child, their family, and society at large. Untreated clubfoot is associated with difficulty in walking, pain, chronic infections, and diminished life opportunities. Untreated clubfoot increases society’s disability burden and decreases participation and productivity, which leads to social, political, and economic deprivation.

Through a strategic, sustainable, replicable, high-impact, and low-cost model, Clubfoot Care for Kenya (CCK) frees children, families, and communities from the physical, emotional, and economic burden of clubfoot disability by strengthening existing systems and structures and advocating for early intervention. While clubfoot disability cannot be prevented, the condition can be corrected before the child takes their first step, enabling all children to thrive and achieve their full potential.

The clubfoot program in Kenya began as a pilot project in 2005. After years of continued growth and expansion, CCK became registered as a local charity NGO on 24th May 2019. Since the program's inception in 2005, over 20,000 children have been enrolled for clubfoot treatment, creating long-lasting positive change in the lives of these children, their families, and the community by eliminating disability shortly after birth.