Today, the global community commemorates World Clubfoot Day 2025, a vital observance that raises awareness about clubfoot, a common but treatable birth condition that affects children worldwide irrespective of their race or gender. There is a significant variation in prevalence rate around the world, depending on region, but various authorities have given an estimated global prevalence rate ranging between approximately 1 in every 800 births and 1 in every 1,000 births worldwide. This year’s theme, “Hope in Every Step: Ensuring Equitable Access to Clubfoot Care”, shows the urgent need to eliminate disparities in access to care and ensure that every child, regardless of their geographical location or socioeconomic background, can receive timely, effective treatment.

Clubfoot, medically known as Congenital Talipes Equinovarus (CTEV), is a deformity in which a baby’s foot is twisted out of shape or position. If left untreated, it can lead to lifelong disability, affecting mobility, self-esteem, and overall quality of life. Fortunately, clubfoot is highly treatable, especially through the Ponseti Method, a globally recognized, non-surgical technique involving gentle manipulation, serial casting, and bracing. Developed by Dr. Ignacio Ponseti, this method has transformed the lives of thousands of children by allowing them to walk, run, and live without pain or limitation.

In alignment with the global call for equity in healthcare, PLAN Foundation, in partnership with MiracleFeet, is playing a critical role in expanding access to quality clubfoot treatment in Oyo State, Nigeria. Since November 2024 and with support of MiracleFeet, PLAN Foundation has successfully reached and provided care to 60 children at its two dedicated treatment centers located at Ring Road State Hospital, Ibadan and BOWEN University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso. These interventions are not only restoring mobility but also restoring hope one step at a time.

Awareness Activities to Mark the Day

To commemorate World Clubfoot Day and amplify awareness, PLAN Foundation has engaged in a massive social media campaign on all its social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, dishing out and syndicating vital information not only about clubfoot but also the significance of World Clubfoot Day.

The organization is also engaging the public through a series of radio awareness programs, bringing expert insights and family testimonies to a broader audience across Oyo State. The lineup of radio programs are as follows:

MONDAY, JUNE 2ND, 2025:
– Brave FM 91.1, Ogbomoso | 12:20 PM – 1:00 PM

TUESDAY, JUNE 3RD, 2025:
– Honors FM 90.0, Ibadan | 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM
– Fresh FM 105.9, Ibadan (Health Focus) | 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4TH, 2025:
– BCOS TV, Ibadan (AM 120) | 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM

These programs aim to educate parents, caregivers, and the general public about the signs of clubfoot, the importance of early intervention, and the availability of free treatment services provided by PLAN Foundation and partners across the state.

A Call for Collective Action

PLAN Foundation joins voices with global partners and health advocates to reiterate that no child should have to live with the preventable disability of untreated clubfoot. The organization remains committed to ensuring that effective treatment is within reach for every affected child, especially in underserved and rural communities.

“Hope truly lies in every step a child takes,” and by investing in accessible and timely clubfoot care, we are not just correcting feet; we are giving children the chance to live full, active lives filled with possibility.”

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
+2348038320421
ifedayo@planfoundation.org.ng