Samuel B Johnson
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Representative Augustine B. Chiewolo, the Champion Of Clubfoot program in Liberia renewed calls for the full support and nationalization of the treatment of Clubfoot in Liberia by National government- as he continues to give hope to families and children living with Clubfoot deformity in Liberia through his non-profit humanitarian organization ( FACORC) the organization that runs the Liberia Clubfoot program in Liberia.
As Liberia celebrates World Clubfoot Day,
Under theme: “ Together we can minimize Clubfoot deformity in Liberia
the head of the Liberia clubfoot program, calls for more support to the program.
Clubfoot is a medical deformity in which the foot appears twisted and even looks as if it’s upside down. Despite its appearance, clubfoot itself doesn’t cause any discomfort or pain.
Though the cause of clubfoot is still medically unknown despite the deformity being in existence for several decades, babies with clubfoot are usually otherwise healthy. On June 3rd clubfoot families and healthcare workers around the globe celebrated World Clubfoot Day. The date was chosen to commemorate the birth date of Dr. Ignacio Ponseti, (1914-2009) developer of the Ponseti Method to treat clubfoot.
Speaking during the celebration of World Clubfoot Day in Congo Town-Monrovia On Tuesday , June 3, 2025 at the program marking the observance of the day, the Executive Director of the Faith Clinical Orthopedic Rehabilitation Center (FACORC), Representative . Augustine B. Chiewolo, said Liberia is on path of the global clubfoot treatment program.
FACORC is a non-profit humanitarian organization that runs the Liberia clubfoot program through the Ponseti Method (non-surgical method).Representative Chiewolo said though the program has made enormous gains, as it has been able to treat over 4,000 children, there is a need for government support or takeover to make its activities more national.
Liberia is being recognized globally for the program. More than 4000 persons have been treated under this program. The goal is to raise awareness for the deformity. It’s a congenital deformity; meaning, children are born with it. Those children born with it cannot wear normal shoes or slippers. They are always stigmatized and they don’t take part in public activities but the good news is that here in Liberia, clubfoot is treatable free of charge,” he said.
“Our only regret is that despite all of these gains, the government has done nothing to help the program. We have engaged both past and current government, but nothing is being done. But we are not going to get tired. We are again calling on the government to help with materials . We want the program to be turned over to the government so that we can nationalize the clubfoot program. It must be among the health policies of the government so that a greater number is treated.”
Representative Chiewolo disclosed that the program is currently operating in eleven (11) of Liberia’s 15 counties and has cured over 4,000 persons across Liberia, mainly focusing on children since its establishment in 2011.
Dr Moses Massaquoi Country Representative of Clinton Health Access Initiative, who served as guest speaker at the occasion, joined the many voices to call on policymakers, including the government to focus more attention on the program so that many children can be treated.
“This is not an individual program, rather it’s a national one and so there is a need for government support. I want to thank the vision bearer and support staff for this great initiative. It is our hope and aspiration that the program rolls out to the remaining counties through government support,” Dr Moses Massaquoi expressed.”
