Traditional Rulers in Umuahia, Abia State have called for collaboration with The Straight Child Foundation, TSCF in their enlightenment/sensitization campaign on Clubfoot, a birth defect in which the foot is twisted out of shape or position.
This is just as the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has expressed its preparedness to partner with TSCF in the Sensitisation of the citizens on Clubfoot and Cerebral Palsy, a lifelong physical disability, that is due to damage to the developing brain during pregnancy, birth, or shortly after birth.
The immediate past deputy chairman Abia State traditional rulers council and traditional ruler of Umutowe Autonomous Community Olokoro clan in Umuahia South L.G.A, HRM Eze Godfrey Onwuka interacting with the TSCF team leader, Lady Onyinyechi Nwachukwu, during advocacy visit.
Speaking in his palace of justice in Umutowe Autonomous Community, Olokoro clan in Umuahia South L.G.A, HRM Eze Godfrey Onwuka, the immediate past deputy chairman of Abia State traditional rulers council, decried that, ignorance, disinformation and misinformation about Clubfoot has led many homes to suffer but appreciated TSCF for thinking the society first.
Eze Onwuka who encouraged the Foundation to do more work at the grassroots, promised to bring to the notice of the traditional rulers in Abia central senatorial district, the existence of TSCF.
HRM Eze Philip Ajomiwe.
Speaking also in his palace in Ubaha, Oriendu autonomous community Ohuhu clan, a former chairman of Umuahia North traditional rulers council, HRM Eze Philip Ajomiwe, appreciated the founder of TSCF for bringing home, what will benefit the Nigeria community.
He also promised to notify his colleagues in Abia North and South senatorial districts that there is a remedy for Clubfoot, once detected early.
Receiving the TSCF led by the founder, Dr. Peace Amaraegbulam, who is a consultant orthopedic surgeon at the Federal Medical Centre Umuahia, in her office during the advocacy visit, the State Director National Orientation Agency (NOA) Abia State, Mrs Regina Iroha, assured The Straight Child Foundation that the National Orientation Agency is well positioned to sensitize the masses especially parents whose children are challenged with Cerebral Palsy and Clubfoot.
In her address during the visits, the founder of The Straight Child Foundation, Dr. Peace Amaraegbulam harped on the benefits of proper awareness creation and Sensitisation of the masses on Cerebral Palsy and Club Foot which has caused deformity in the lives of many children in the country.
Dr. Amaraegbulam said that Clubfoot, a deformity found in the leg is not a death sentence but can be corrected if given the right treatment especially between the range of 0 and 5 years.
TSCF founder who listed Clubfoot treatment methods to include: Ponseti method; French method; Bracing; and Surgery, pointed out that most cases of clubfoot are successfully treated with nonsurgical methods that may include a combination of stretching, casting, and bracing.
The consultant orthopedic surgeon who said ignorance on the part of parents have been the major challenge confronting the treatment of children with Clubfoot, encouraged parents whose children are affected to bring their wards to the hospital for treatment.
She also called for a legislation to support people with cerebral Palsy and Club Foot.
Moreover, she commended National Orientation Agency for being skillful in sensitizing the masses and pledged the willingness of her foundation in partnership with Miracle Foot foundation, a USA based organisation to help in the correction and treatment of children with Clubfoot.