JOIN USKids with foot disorder will get free treatment in LNJP
Children born with clubfoot, a condition in which foot is turned inward and downward, will be treated in Lok Nayak Hospital free of cost from next month. The clinic will not only provide treatment and special shoes but also counselling to parents to ensure full recovery of the children which takes three to four years.
“The disorder is 100 per cent curable. But parents do not get through the full treatment which takes many years. Also, the bones grow till the age of 16-17 years and one has to be careful till then," said Dr Shishir Rastogi, faculty, orthopedics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences.
The orthopedics department of AIIMS organised first Annual Clubfoot Congress to discuss and spread awareness about the disorder.
AIIMS has one of the oldest clinics for treatment of the disease which opens every Friday. Philanthropic organisations donate footwear to needy patients.
“Each pair of shoes cost Rs 1,000 and a child needs nearly 10 pairs for full recovery," said Dr Santhosh George G, regional manager, Asia, Cure Clubfoot Worldwide.
The organisation runs counselling clinics in five government hospitals and one private hospital.
“In the past three years, since we have launched first clinic in Delhi, 2,100 children have been given treatment for clubfoot.
“Most of the parents are not aware about the free of cost treatment available at Delhi hospitals," added Dr George.
Chacha Nehru Bal Chikitsalaya (CNBC) was the first hospital among Delhi government hospitals to have come up with the facility of treatment, free shoes and long-term counselling.
"We launched the clinic because clubfoot is a congenital problem (disorder by birth) and 100 per cent curable. Awareness and early intervention is required for the proper cure," said Dr K K Kalra, medical superintendent, Chacha Nehru Bal Chikitsalaya.
Nearly 50,000 children are born with clubfoot in India every year.
The treatment, however, is not very pleasant for the child, though earlier the better.
"We brought our son to AIIMS when he was two-and-a-half months old.
“In the past five months, he has been put corrective plaster 10 times," said Jai's father Birju from Sonipat.
In the next stage, Jai's tendon, from the back of ankle, will be operated and he will be given special shoes to wear.
Dr Binayak Sen, activist doctor, gave a broad perspective on healthcare.
He said the government spending in the sector is very low, especially in research.
"For the 12th five year plan, the government is proposing to increase health expenditure to 2.5 per cent of the gross domestic product, which is below the long time promise of three per cent.
The civil society groups and healthcare community will have to work hard to make health accessible to all," he said.
The male-female divide in India is reflected in treatment of clubfoot too. Globally, the ratio among children suffering from clubfoot is 40 per cent in girls and 60 per cent in boys.
In India, estimates show only one-fourth of total children being treated are girls.
Dr Rastogi said biologically boys are more prone to getting clubfoot.
"Parents do not bring girl-children for treatment. In fact, there are cases in which such girl infants have been abandoned by their families," said Dr George.
Free treatment
* Chacha Nehru Bal Chikitsalaya Geeta Colony – Wednesday
* Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, Hari Nagar – Monday
* Maharishi Balmiki Hospital, Bawana – Thursday
* Lady Hardinge Medical College, near Connaught Place – Wednesday and Friday
* St Stephen’s Hospital, Tis Hazari – Saturday
* AIIMS, Ansari Nagar – Friday