Bank of Africa (BOA) Tanzania has launched a twomonth fundraising campaign for clubfoot that seeks to raise 100,000 US dollars (about 190m/-) to treat 400 children.
The bank is raising the money to support Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation in Tanzania (CCBRT) to provide free treatment for the children with clubfoot across the country.
BOA Managing Director, Ammish Owusu-Amoah said they’ll help to raise the money as ‘it is disheartening’ for children to grow up with clubfoot while knowing it was possible to treat them at early stage.
“We think this is an important contribution. We will raise the money (for CCBRT) using various channels through our clients, 21 branches, staff, suppliers and individuals,” Mr Owusu- Amoah told journalists.
The bank MD, who is also the chief executive officer of BOA, said they call upon other corporates and people of good will to join their endeavour since about 1,500 children are born with clubfoot and treatment is possible.
“This initiative not only helps to ensure that our children will have a better future and achieve their dreams, but also assist in building a more inclusive economy,” Mr Owusu-Amoah said.
CCBRT Chief Executive Officer, Erwin Telemans, said clubfoot correcting at early stage is possible where 90 per cent could be treated without surgery using casting technique.
“The treatment starts as early as possible, the best is for one day old child using casting method, but delaying a treatment might raise complication due to surgery,” Mr Telemans said.
He added: “I am touched with the BOA support as we don’t accept seeing a child with clubfoot, which we can treat...the factor of time, is very crucial.
Treating four to seven years old become more difficulty.” The hospital extended the clubfoot treatment to Dar es Salaam city hospital of Mwananyamala, Amana, Temeke, Buguruni and Mbagala Rangitatu.
Also CCBRT trains, builds capacity for local health practitioners and do some refurbishment for the health centres. He said the hospital treats about 300 children a year using 34 health centres.
“The challenge is to raise awareness that clubfoot is treatable free at CCBRT, people should bring their children as early as possible... they should know clubfoot is a problem that can be solved,” Mr Telemans said.
According to him at early stage treatment cost as low as 50 US dollars, but at advanced stage as much as 500 US dollars. Clubfoot is a congenital deformity that can affect either one or both feet.
The affected foot appears to have been rotated internally at the ankle. Without treatment, people appear to walk on their ankles or on the side of their foot.
The bank is raising the money to support Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation in Tanzania (CCBRT) to provide free treatment for the children with clubfoot across the country.
BOA Managing Director, Ammish Owusu-Amoah said they’ll help to raise the money as ‘it is disheartening’ for children to grow up with clubfoot while knowing it was possible to treat them at early stage.
“We think this is an important contribution. We will raise the money (for CCBRT) using various channels through our clients, 21 branches, staff, suppliers and individuals,” Mr Owusu- Amoah told journalists.
The bank MD, who is also the chief executive officer of BOA, said they call upon other corporates and people of good will to join their endeavour since about 1,500 children are born with clubfoot and treatment is possible.
“This initiative not only helps to ensure that our children will have a better future and achieve their dreams, but also assist in building a more inclusive economy,” Mr Owusu-Amoah said.
CCBRT Chief Executive Officer, Erwin Telemans, said clubfoot correcting at early stage is possible where 90 per cent could be treated without surgery using casting technique.
“The treatment starts as early as possible, the best is for one day old child using casting method, but delaying a treatment might raise complication due to surgery,” Mr Telemans said.
He added: “I am touched with the BOA support as we don’t accept seeing a child with clubfoot, which we can treat...the factor of time, is very crucial.
Treating four to seven years old become more difficulty.” The hospital extended the clubfoot treatment to Dar es Salaam city hospital of Mwananyamala, Amana, Temeke, Buguruni and Mbagala Rangitatu.
Also CCBRT trains, builds capacity for local health practitioners and do some refurbishment for the health centres. He said the hospital treats about 300 children a year using 34 health centres.
“The challenge is to raise awareness that clubfoot is treatable free at CCBRT, people should bring their children as early as possible... they should know clubfoot is a problem that can be solved,” Mr Telemans said.
According to him at early stage treatment cost as low as 50 US dollars, but at advanced stage as much as 500 US dollars. Clubfoot is a congenital deformity that can affect either one or both feet.
The affected foot appears to have been rotated internally at the ankle. Without treatment, people appear to walk on their ankles or on the side of their foot.
Source: Daily News, reported by Abduel Elinaza, from Dar es Salaam,Tanzania
0 comments :
Post a Comment