Celebrating 20 Years of STEPS Clubfoot Care

IN A world where a life-changing intervention can mean the differ-ence between mobility and limita-tion, STEPS Clubfoot Care celebrates two decades of service this Tuesday coinciding with World Clubfoot Day.

- TRACY-LYNN RUITERS

Since its inception, STEPS has touched the lives of over 12000 children across South Africa.

Clubfoot, a congenital condition that affects the positioning of a baby's foot, twists it downward and inward, making treatment paramount for the child's future mobility. Every year, at least 2000 newborns in South Africa are diagnosed with this condition, yet it remains entirely treatable thanks to the Ponseti Method - a non-invasive approach that realigns the foot and provides pain-free mobility for 95% of its patients.

STEPS was founded by Karen Moss in response to her son's clubfoot diagnosis. Struggling with limited treatment options at the time, she discovered the Ponseti Method during a visit to Dr. Ignacio Ponseti in Iowa, US. This experience ignited a commit-ment to ensure no parent in South Africa need to face clubfoot alone.

"No parent should ever feel hopeless after a clubfoot diagnosis," Moss reflected. "I wanted to build a local network equipped with the guidance necessary to deliver expert care and tangible results."