CLUBFOOT TREATMENT: KOGI STATE TO PARTNER WITH STRAIGHT CHILD FOUNDATION AND MIRACLE FEET NGOs

Kogi State Government is to partner with the Straight Child Foundation and Miracle Feet, to correct club foot deformity among children in the state.

The State Executive Director, Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency Dr. Abubakar Yakubu made this known at the stakeholders meeting with the State Coordinator of the program Dr. Olaniyan Sunday in Lokoja,.

Dr. Abubakar who thanked the Foundations for choosing the state as one of the beneficiaries of the programme in the country said that the state government under the leadership of Alh. Yahaya Bello is interested in the wellbeing of the people and will do everything humanly possible for children suffering from CLUBFOOT deformities to access the free medical services; adding that whatever is needed for the success of the programme in the state will be provided without delay.

In his address, the State Coordinator of the Foundations Dr. Olaniyan Sunday thanked the state government for the cooperation it has extended to the Foundation since the programme started and called on all stakeholders to sensitize their people about the ongoing free CLUBFOOT treatment programme at the Federal Medical Centre Lokoja.

According to him the programme is free and all cases of CLUBFOOT among children with in the age of five (5) should be referred to the Hospital for treatment. The Clinic he said opened every Thursday from 9am; saying that Kogi State is one of the six states that is benefiting from the programme and called on the parents to harness the opportunity provided by the platform to treat their wards; stressing that 90 to 95% of CLUBFOOT deformities can be treated or corrected at the early stage.

Responding, the Director Public Health, State Ministry of Health Dr. Francis Akpa lauded the programme; saying that the state is lucky to be among the six states chosen to benefit from the programme, noting that the programme will go a long way in addressing the challenges of deformities and disabilities in the state.

In his response, the Director General Kogi State Broadcasting Corporation Mr. Ojo Oyila who was represented by the Secretary of the corporation Mr. Atabor Sylvester assured the readiness of the corporation to partner with the Foundation in sensitizing the people about the programme.

Also speaking the State Chairman Forum of Supervisory Councilors For Health, Hon. Ibrahim Attairu thanked the Foundation and the State Government for the programme, saying that they were already informed by the Executive Director Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency Dr, Abubarkar Yakubu about the programme; assuring that people at Local Government Level will be fully sensitized for the programme.

In their responses, the representatives of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Elder. David Onile, FOMWAN, Mrs Aishat Mohammed, the State Chairman of People Living with Disabilities, Mr. Arome Ibrahim and Miayetti Allah Cattle breeders Association, Adamu Abubakar thanked the Foundation for the programme and promised to sensitize their people to take the advantage provided by the platform to address CLUBFOOT challenges among children in the state.