PLAN Foundation Press Release – World Patient Safety Day 2025

You are currently viewing PLAN Foundation Press Release – World Patient Safety Day 2025
  • Post category:Press Release
  • Reading time:4 mins read
  • Post author:

As the world marks World Patient Safety Day 2025 under the theme “Safe Care for Every Newborn and Every Child,” PLAN Health Advocacy and Development Foundation is amplifying the call for safer, standardized, and child-centered treatment for children born with clubfoot.

Clubfoot, medically known as congenital talipes equinovarus, is among the most common congenital musculoskeletal disorders globally, affecting 1–2 in every 1,000 live births. Each year, approximately 174,000 children are born with clubfoot worldwide, with more than 90% of cases occurring in low- and middle-income countries. In Nigeria alone, around 9,000 babies are affected annually.

While the Ponseti method remains the global standard of care, significant patient safety challenges persist in resource-limited settings. Issues such as relapse, overcorrection, pressure sores, poor brace compliance, and inadequate follow-up continue to hinder safe and effective outcomes—often leaving children with preventable long-term disabilities.

PLAN Foundation’s Response

To close these gaps, PLAN Foundation has expanded its clubfoot intervention programs. In the last year of the project, its dedicated clinics at Ring Road State Specialist Hospital in Ibadan and Bowen University Teaching Hospital in Ogbomosho successfully enrolled 63 children, surpassing its target of 60. Building on this momentum, PLAN Foundation is scaling up to eight additional healthcare facilities across Oyo and Ogun States to decentralize services, reduce travel burdens for families, and promote early intervention.

Safe Care for Every Child

Unsafe treatment practices including missed follow-up care, poorly applied casts, and inadequate caregiver education remain a major barrier to safe and effective outcomes. Studies from countries such as Uganda, India, and Brazil have documented relapse rates of 10–38%, with some children requiring surgical intervention due to poor adherence or treatment by unqualified providers. In Nigeria, reports show that up to 12% of children experience pressure sores during casting, while overcorrection can result in chronic foot pain and reduced mobility. These preventable risks highlight the urgent need to place patient safety at the center of child healthcare. By reducing avoidable harm and strengthening follow-up systems, every child born with clubfoot can have the chance to walk, play, and live without disability.

A Call to Action

On this World Patient Safety Day, PLAN Foundation calls on all stakeholders to act decisively:

  • Government agencies to strengthen newborn and child health systems with clear safety protocols.
  • Healthcare providers to uphold the highest standards of safe, evidence-based treatment.
  • Communities and caregivers to support adherence to treatment and follow-up care.
  • Development partners and donors to invest in programs that protect children from preventable harm and disability.

“Every newborn and every child deserve healthcare that heals and does not harm.” By prioritizing safety in child health interventions like clubfoot treatment, we safeguard futures, reduce disability, and strengthen our communities.

About PLAN Health Advocacy and Development Foundation

PLAN Health Advocacy and Development Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing health equity through advocacy, community engagement, and direct service delivery. Its clubfoot program, supported by MiracleFeet, is improving access to timely, safe, and effective treatment for children across Nigeria.


PLAN Foundation is a member of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC), the World Patients Alliance (WPA), the International AIDS Society (IAS), the Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+), the Stop TB Partnership, the International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations (IAPO), the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (IUATLD), the Global Health Council (GHC), as well as various other relevant regional and global networks, movements, and professional associations aligned with its vision of a Nigeria where the individual, family, and community are adequately empowered to protect themselves against poverty, underdevelopment, and the spread of diseases.

For more details on PLAN Foundation, engage us on our social media accounts on
X (Twitter): @NG_PLAN
Instagram: @planfoundationng
Facebook: @PLANFoundationNG

YouTube: @PLANFoundationNG