miraclefeet in Maharashtra State, India

miraclefeet has launched a new clubfoot initiative in Maharashtra State India. miraclefeet targeted Maharashtra due to the very large population living in Mumbai as well the other major cities, and the very limited availability of proper clubfoot treatment in public hospitals. miraclefeet is working in Maharashtra through a joint venture with CURE International India Trust. The goal in Maharashtra is to initially establish clubfoot clinics in 7 public hospitals (or hospitals serving low income populations for free) with the expectation that over 250 children will be enrolled in the first 6 months.

Progress to date

The initial kick off training was held in May 2011 attended by over 90 doctors and residents from area hospitals. Dr. Alaric Aroojis has been named the Medical Director of the program and a program coordinator has been hired. BJ Wadia Children’s Hospital has kindly provided space for a small administrative office.

So far, clinics have been established at BJ Wadia Children’s Hospital and at Sion Hospital in Mumbai. Three new clinics are being added in Pune and two more in Mumbai within the next few months. miraclefeet and CURE are working to establish a formal agreement with the State Ministry of Health, which will allow further expansion. Hospitals that have been approached to be part of the program include Sir J.J. Group of Hospitals, B.Y.L. Nair Hospital, K.E.M. Hospital, All India Institute of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation in Mumbai, B.J. Medical College, Bharti Vidyapith Hospital, Shrimati Kashibai Navale Medical College & General Hospital in Pune, and District Government Hospital in Nagpur.

All patient data and photographs are being entered into the miraclefeet patient database so that quality of care and number of children being treated can be monitored by miraclefeet. CURE and miraclefeet expect to be treating over 250 children by the end of 2011 and to expand to over 600 within two year.

miraclefeet appreciates the support and involvement of the following doctors who participated as trainers in the first Maharashtra Training and who continue to be important advocates for treatment of children with clubfoot using the Ponseti Method in India: