Senegal
About Our Work
MiracleFeet’s Senegal program started in 2017 in partnership with DAHW, an international German relief organization established in 1957 to provide sustainable assistance to the sick and marginalized in developing countries. Active in Senegal for over 35 years, DAHW’s vision is a world in which no one suffers from poverty-related diseases. With a clear understanding of the devastating consequences of untreated clubfoot, DAWH Senegal, located in Dakar, is committed to increase access to treatment for this leading cause of physical disability.
We’ve recently added a new partner, Federation du baol Senegal, a distinguished public health and child-protection organization, founded in 2009 with a profound commitment to enhancing the well-being of vulnerable children. With a team of over 70 members, including nurses, midwives, and dedicated community mobilizers, Federation du baol Senegal will collaborate closely with DAHW.
Prior to MiracleFeet’s support, the majority of clubfoot cases in Senegal went either untreated or partially treated. Without proper equipment, supplies, training, or support, most clinicians were not equipped to fully treat patients using the Ponseti method. The treatment that was available generally involved surgery and was too expensive for most families to afford.
In partnership with DAHW and Federation du baol Senegal, MiracleFeet plans to treat 70% of children born with clubfoot in Senegal with high-quality care. Strategies include: early detection and referral, parental education and engagement, family and community awareness, and provider training and support.
Awareness Raising
DAHW oversees advocacy efforts for integrating clubfoot into national policies and national health systems. Additionally, an elaborate community awareness strategy is currently in development which will involve a variety of stakeholders including providers, parent advocates, religious leaders, as well as media outlets. The plan will raise clubfoot awareness and educate and encourage parents to pursue treatment for their children.
Federation du baol Senegal will engage with civil societies as well as community-based organization to improve clubfoot awareness. Additionally, they will work on program expansion efforts including expanding the number of clubfoot clinics, increasing the number of providers trained in the Ponseti method, and collaborating with districts during immunization campaigns to increase early detection and referral.
Training
Senegal is a hub of ACT trainings, the standard curriculum designed specifically for learning and applying Ponseti skills in low-resource settings, across the region. Additionally, providers use CAST, a mobile data management app that helps track and improve treatment quality and outcomes.
The clubfoot treatment program is implemented in government clinics with qualified clinicians (orthopedic surgeons, medical doctors, physiotherapists, and nurses) to ensure further integration and ownership. Currently, Mercyships and MiracleFeet are collaborating to train clinicians on all aspects of ACT (Basic, Advanced, and Train the Trainer).
Publicity
Changing the lives of Senegalese people disabled by clubfoot
Clubfoot treatment turning lives around in Senegal – BBC News
