PLAN Health Advocacy and Development Foundation has strengthened its commitment to child protection and safe healthcare delivery through the participation of two staff members in a Child Safeguarding and Ponseti Training organised by the Positive Care and Development Foundation (PCDF) in Ekiti State.
The participants were Oshinfade Oluwakemi, Administrative and Compliance Officer & Child Safeguarding Focal Person at PLAN Foundation, and Rotimi Iroko, Programme Officer and Child Safeguarding Focal Person for Ogun State under the MiracleFeet Clubfoot Project.
The training, held from 21 to 24 September 2026 at the Ministry of Health (Data Bank Building), Ekiti State, equipped participants with essential knowledge of child safeguarding, alongside practical training on the Ponseti method of treating clubfoot. It emphasised the importance of protecting the safety, dignity and well-being of children throughout their treatment and interactions with healthcare workers, programme staff and caregivers.
Promoting Child Safety, Dignity and Respect
A key focus of the training was the principle that child safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Participants gained a better understanding of different forms of child abuse, potential safeguarding risks and the importance of creating environments where children feel safe, respected and protected from harm.
The sessions reinforced the principle of do no harm and highlighted the need to identify and report safeguarding concerns without waiting for them to be proven. This knowledge is essential for staff working with children, particularly those receiving healthcare services and participating in community outreach activities.
Participants also explored practical ways to promote safeguarding during clubfoot treatment, including protecting children’s privacy during examinations, involving parents and caregivers appropriately, using respectful language, preventing unsafe one-to-one situations and ensuring that clinic environments, instruments and equipment are safe for children.
Integrating Safeguarding into Clubfoot Treatment
The training demonstrated that effective clubfoot care extends beyond the technical delivery of treatment to ensuring that every child receives care in a safe, supportive and respectful environment.
Through practical demonstrations and theoretical sessions, the PLAN Foundation staff gained further insight into the stages of the Ponseti method, including gentle foot manipulation, the application of serial casts, tenotomy when required, and the use of braces to help prevent the recurrence of clubfoot.
The sessions also emphasised the importance of providing parents and guardians with clear information about a child’s condition, treatment process and follow-up care. Participants learned that simple measures, such as ensuring a child is comfortable and using age-appropriate distractions, can help make treatment less stressful.
Following the training, the staff also participated in a clubfoot outreach activity, where they applied their learning by educating community members about clubfoot.
Protecting Children’s Images and Privacy
Another important area covered during the training was the responsible use of children’s photographs and videos, particularly in programme documentation, communication and public awareness activities. Participants learned that appropriate consent must be obtained before children’s images are captured or used, and that the purpose of taking photographs or videos should be clearly explained. They were also reminded of the importance of protecting children’s privacy and identity.
These lessons reinforce PLAN Foundation’s commitment to responsible communication and the protection of children in the documentation and promotion of its health interventions.
Strengthening PLAN Foundation’s Commitment to Child Protection
The participation of Oshinfade Oluwakemi and Rotimi Iroko reflects PLAN Foundation’s continued efforts to strengthen staff capacity and promote safe, respectful and child-centered healthcare practices. PLAN Foundation appreciates the Positive Care and Development Foundation (PCDF) for organising the training and providing an opportunity for practical learning and knowledge-sharing. We also acknowledge MiracleFeet for its engagement of the organisation as one of its Nigerian partners, as well as its support for the broader work of improving access to clubfoot care.
PLAN Foundation remains committed to promoting the health, safety, dignity and well-being of children through its health programmes and community engagement activities. By strengthening staff knowledge of child safeguarding and clubfoot treatment, as we seek to ensure that children and their families receive care that priorities both effective treatment and protection from harm.
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
Ifedayo Osemwegie,
Advocacy, Strategic Communication and Media Officer,
PLAN Health Advocacy and Development Foundation (PLAN Foundation)
+2348038320421
ifedayo@planfoundation.org.ng
