Clubfoot Africa Conference - Moulding the Future on November 21-23, 2022 in Cape Town, South Africa

Clubfoot Africa Conference goal: To improve and expand the globally accepted standard of clubfoot treatment - the Ponseti method - with focus on restricted resource settings. 

The vision of the inaugural 2022 Clubfoot Africa Conference is to build capacity so that every child born with clubfoot is treated early and effectively.

We want to leave a legacy of a world without the disability of untreated clubfoot.

Clubfoot Africa Conference ‘Moulding the Future’ is the first clubfoot-focused conference to be held in Africa, on 21 and 22 November 2022 in Cape Town. The conference is organised by Steps Charity NPC and endorsed by the local medical partner the South African Paediatric Orthopaedic Society. Other conference partners are the Global Clubfoot Initiative, and clubfoot organisations working in Africa. 

We have confirmed international expert keynote speakers including Dr Matthew Dobbs (USA), , Denise Watson-Tann (UK) and Dr Shafique Pirani (Canada), Dr Norgrove Penny (Canada) and expert speakers with significant experience in restricted resource settings including Dr Isidor Ngayomela (Tanzania), Dr Monica Nogueira (Brazil), Dr Timothy Nunn (Ethiopia), Dr Mathew Varghese (India), and South African faculty. Dr Mathew Varghese was nominated by Bill Gates in 2018 as one of the five heroes in the field that inspires him. 

The conference will provide an important platform and gathering for knowledge sharing, and innovations that will shape the future of clubfoot treatment on the African continent and beyond. 

The conference will be hybrid format with in person delegates and online viewing of the talks. Delegates from 30+ countries have registered their interest to attend. 

Join global Clubfoot experts and colleagues for the first time in Africa at this inaugural biennial conference.

OUTCOMES 

• Raise the public profile and awareness of clubfoot. 
• Strengthened relationships between key stakeholders. 
• Improved and standardised treatment. 
• Increased collaboration to avoid duplication and maximise impact. 
• Produce white paper with consensus on clubfoot treatment recommendations. 

LEGACY 

• Elimination of disability for all patients born with clubfoot. 
• Multi-disciplinary teams collaborate to improve and streamline clubfoot treatment. 
• Funding of clubfoot treatment increased. 
• Improved patient-centred clubfoot care with focus on the patient’s basic human rights. 
• Increased awareness of how technology and education tools can improve treatment. 
• Effective and expanded clubfoot management contributes positively to the economy.