How you can help eradicate clubfoot in children
24th November 2016
OUI supports crowdfunding effort to eradicate clubfoot in African children.
At Oxford University Innovation, we see potential solutions to some of the greatest medical challenges of our times go through our doors. Immunotherapy for cancer treatment. A new first-in-class drug to tackle antibiotic resistance. Organs-on-a-chip which can replace animal testing.
All these challenges demand complex solutions that require dedicated support, funding, and expertise. However, we also see problems which can be solved much more easily.
Clubfoot, a birth deformity which causes the feet to point inwards, falls into the latter category. Clubfoot affects around 1 in every 1,000 babies, but is easily treatable in the developed world. Steven Gerrard was born with a clubfoot, and went on to become one of the most successful footballers of all time. New Orleans Saints’ Tom Dempsey was born with a clubfoot (and no toes) on his right side, yet kicked the longest NFL field goal in history in 1970 at 63-feet regardless, a record which went unbroken until this decade.
However, for over 30,000 African children born with the condition every year, it is an entirely different story.
The life for these children is one of pain, isolation, and poverty – simply because they are unable to access treatment to correct the deformity early on in life. Children with untreated clubfoot are less likely to go to school or find employment, thus beginning a lifelong cycle of poverty. They experience a lack of dignity and are often excluded by other children and their own communities. Some are even abused.
At Oxford University, we are seeking to change that.
The Africa Clubfoot Training (ACT) Project is aiming to roll out the Basic Clubfoot Treatment Provider programme across Africa, giving local medical practitioners the knowledge and experience they need to easily treat clubfoot.
Led by Professor Chris Lavy, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon and researcher at Oxford University, ACT is seeking £100,000 in crowdfunding to make the project a reality.
Click here to see our Vimeo video on the ACT Project.
We’re working towards the target, but need your help to hit it. That’s why we’re asking that you get involved in helping us in this endeavour, which you can do in one of two easy ways:
- You (or your organisation) can contribute directly to our crowdfunding efforts through Oxford’s crowdfunding page for the ACT project, which you can find here: https://oxreach.hubbub.net/p/clubfoot
- Like and share this post with your network, which will help us extend the reach of the crowdfunding effort. It’s also Giving Tuesday next week, and we would be delighted to find organisations to partner with who can assist us getting our #GivingTuesday for ACT campaign more exposure.
Thank you for your time and support in helping us overcome clubfoot.
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