World Clubfoot Day: A day for ‘clubfoot warriors’ in Cebu on June 30

Cebu City, Philippines— A small get together for all clubfoot patients will be held this June 30, 2019 here in Cebu. 

Glen Quilat, site coordinator for Cebu of Miraclefeet, a U.S based non-profit organization for clubfoot, is organizing a day of celebration for all their “clubfoot warriors.” The venue of the event has yet to be determined.

“I am organizing what could be the first ‘World Clubfoot Day’ in Cebu to celebrate the bravery of my clubfoot warriors and the love and perseverance of the parents. Also, to get the word out there that there is free treatment for clubfoot at  Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) Ponseti Clinic” she said. 

The VSMMC Ponseti Clinic in partnership with Miraclefeet has a total of 252 patients and 164 of these are the ones who are active in getting their free treatment.

Patients’ age ranges from a few weeks old to 12 year old.

On June 30, Quilat is hoping that at least 80 to 100 patients can come and join them as they celebrate each patient’s journey as a clubfoot warrior. 

Quilat is still looking for more sponsors and donations to help them with the needed funds for the food, loot bags, transportation for the patients who will be coming from the remote areas and for the games and prizes. 

Cosplayers are also welcome to bring out their best superhero self to entertain the patients. 

Clubfoot is considered to be one o the most common birth defects that is often left untreated because of the lack of knowledge.

According to OrthoInfo (orthoinfo.aaos.org), clubfoot is a deformity in which an infant’s foot is turned inward, often so severely that the bottom of the foot faces sideways or even upward. 

Approximately one infant in every 1,000 live births will have clubfoot, making it one of the more common congenital (present at birth) foot deformities. /bmjo