THEME: “CHILDHOOD MALFORMATIONS, LET’S BREAK THE SILENCE”
MAIN FOCUS: CLUBFOOT IN GHANA
INTRODUCTION
The School of Medical Sciences, KNUST, is a community oriented Medical School, determined to make an impact on health related issues and to be a vehicle of progress in the health services of our country and the world at large. The Medical Students Association(MSA), KNUST, was formed some 25 years ago and since then has made a concerted effort to tackle some of the health problems facing the country through the organization of mini-clinics, health education campaigns and an Annual National Health Week Programme.
Over the past few years the Dinner and Projects Committee of the MSA have undertaken various projects with the ultimate aim of helping to attain and maintain the highest standard of health of Ghanaians.
This year, 2010, we are embarking on a project to raise awareness on childhood malformations, concentrating especially on clubfoot. Apart from increasing the awareness, we seek to raise funds that will be donated to the clubfoot clinic at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital to be used for the reversal of this deformity.
CLUBFOOT
A clubfoot, or congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV), is a congenital deformity involving one foot or both. The affected foot appears rotated internally at the ankle. Without treatment, persons afflicted often appear to walk on their ankles, or on the sides of their feet. It is a common birth defect, occurring in about one in every 1,000 live births. Approximately 50% of cases of clubfoot are bilateral. This occurs in males more often than in females by a ratio of 2:1.Many notable people have been born with clubfoot, including footballer Steven Gerrard (The Captain of Liverpool Football Club), the comedian Damon Wayans, actors Gary Burghoff, Dudley Moore.
Last year 74 children presented with clubfoot at the Clubfoot Clinic of KATH. This year we are targeting 100 children with such deformities and for each child an average amount of 200 Ghana cedis is required to correct this deformity – The treatment which spans from the 1st Week of life to 2 years. The estimated target is 20000 Ghana cedis
From this donation, monies will be given to the mothers (most of whom are poor and do not have money to support the treatment) as incentives to encourage them to come for regular changing of the braces at the club foot clinic at KATH.The donation will be done at the end of project dinner in November, this year to crown all activities.
In our quest to meet this project, we need your support in order to bring help and normality into the lives of these children. No amount is too small. Any way you will be able to help, will be deeply appreciated. Donations may be in Cash or in Kind.
Cash Donations can be made to the account KNUST MSA, Ghana Commercial Bank A/C no. 60311130000778
Or you may also contact the Project Coordinator directly on 233-24-3377003
CONCLUSION
We live in a society where to say “one’s burden is not another’s” is to say we do not understand the value of life. We might have been born healthy today with all necessary organs in their right place and functioning correctly and might not know how others are functioning with these deformities.
We, the students of KNUST MSA believe that every life counts and have therefore taken it upon ourselves, to reach out to these dear little ones of ours.
I sincerely appreciate the effort you have put into reading this summary and I know that a favorable response is of the least expected from you on this occasion.
I am truly grateful.
Yours faithfully,
Ms. Abena Yeboah Aduse-Poku
(Project Coordinator)
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