The Sustainable Clubfoot Programme assists with training and up- skilling staff in the treatment of clubfoot with the Ponseti method. Currently the Kite method is the most common method used in the treatment of clubfoot in Zimbabwe. The beginning of 2012 has had a focus on training. Counsellor Training was held on 14th and 15th of February with Phil Hudson from CURE International. A total of 12 counsellors were trained from , and . Jennifer McCahill, Chris Lavy and their team completed our endorsement and follow up training of the complicated clubfoot. It was a great success! It was held on the 27th of March in Harare and 28th of March in Bulawayo.

United Bulawayo Hospital endorsement training March 2012 with the team from the UK: Prof Chris Lavy, Dr Rachel Buckingham, Ros Owen, Hannah Lloyd, Jennifer McCahill

Casts have previously been removed by scouring with a stone or with scalpels. The Bulawayo and Harare clinics now have knives and nibblers to assist with removal and this will make a significant difference to the parents who remove the casts and in the time taken. 20 people completed the endorsement training in Harare and 30 people completed the training in Bulawayo. In the first three months of 2012, 47 children have had their clubfoot corrected in both hospitals and have now been fitted for braces. There were 52 new referrals. Between April and July, Parirenyatwa has had 31 new referrals.

Refining the casting technique Casting in the older child , Parirenyatwa Removal of casts in Bulawayo

Initial visits to Gweru and hospitals were undertaken by Ryan Bathurst (Director of ZSCP) and Tracey Smythe (Co-ordinator of ZSCP) at the end of May. The education sessions and outline of projected training in August were well received and the clinic therapists, technicians and doctors expressed gratitude in being assisted in learning an effective technique to treat clubfoot. We anticipate being able to reach over 50 children in both clinics over a year – many of whom have to travel considerable distances. Initial training for the two new clinics in Zimbabwe is being planned for the end of September 2012. The Parirenyatwa (Pari) clubfoot clinic continues to be held on a Tuesday in Harare and the United Bulawayo Hospital (UBH) conducts their clinic on a Wednesday. The clinics are free of charge to children under 5 years old. Steenbeek foot abduction braces are being made locally in Ruwa, 30minutes outside of Harare and are provided to both clinics.

Please feel free to contact Tracey Smythe on +263 774 819 784 if you have any questions regarding the programme.