Peru
About our work
An estimated 10 to 12% of Peru’s population lives with a disability, underscoring the significant challenges in achieving universal, equitable healthcare, particularly for impoverished communities. Geographic barriers, such as the Andes mountains and the Amazon rainforest, impede access to healthcare facilities. Economic disparities and high out-of-pocket expenses further prevent many from obtaining essential services. Additionally, inadequate infrastructure, under-resourced facilities, and a shortage of healthcare professionals, especially in rural areas, limit the availability and quality of care. The occasional lack of coordination among health providers and government agencies, coupled with bureaucratic obstacles, delays, and obstructed access to services, including clubfoot treatment, exacerbate disparities, leading to unequal access to care nationwide. Since 2010, the Child Orthopedics and Traumatology Service of the National Institute of Child Health and other local experts have made significant strides in clubfoot treatment. However, a significant number of Peruvian children born with clubfoot still struggle to access quality care due to the aforementioned challenges.
MiracleFeet, in collaboration with key stakeholders and experts in Peru, is actively working to address these issues. Part of the efforts has been directly engaging with hospital clinics across Peru, particularly in densely populated areas, to enhance existing efforts in providing clubfoot care. This initiative is complemented by advocacy with stakeholders like the Ministry of Health to develop an expansion and sustainability strategy. The goal is to ensure that no child in Peru lives with a disability caused by untreated clubfoot. MiracleFeet is also exploring partnerships with clinics practicing the Ponseti Method in Peru to bridge gaps and remove barriers to enhance their efficiency and effectiveness. This includes designing and implementing training and mentoring programs for doctors interested in learning the Ponseti Method, supporting early detection and referral activities, and conducting parent education to reduce patient dropout rates. This also includes the provision of support to families at risk of dropping out through transportation subsidies and home visits. The long-term objective is to integrate clubfoot treatment into Peru’s public health systems. MiracleFeet aims to support local efforts to achieve this by forging powerful community alliances that leverage the influential voices and trusted relationships of community leaders to eradicate clubfoot stigma. This approach will catalyze a transformative shift in clubfoot awareness and treatment accessibility, ensuring that every child born with clubfoot in Peru receives timely treatment.
Partners
Partnerships play a crucial role in this endeavor. Asociación ASIRI Labio y Paladar Hendido (ASIRI) envisions that all children with congenital conditions have access to high-quality, ethical, and patient-centered care. Through a multidisciplinary approach including orthopedics, rehabilitation, nutrition, and psychosocial support—ASIRI works to ensure that every child can lead a functional and independent life. Together with ASIRI, MiracleFeet is advancing a phased decentralization strategy to
expand equitable access to clubfoot treatment nationwide through the establishment of regional hubs aligned with
geographic need and health system capacity. These sites will strengthen national coverage as they advance through the implementation process.
Clinics
