Rep. Augustine B. Chiewolo Calls for Nationalization of Clubfoot Program as Liberia Observes World Clubfoot Day
By: Melvin Flomo
MONROVIA, Liberia, June 3, 2026 — Representative Augustine B. Chiewolo has renewed his call for increased government support and the full nationalization of clubfoot treatment services in Liberia, stressing that no child should be denied access to life-changing care because of their location or financial circumstances.
Speaking Wednesday during Liberia’s observance of World Clubfoot Day at the Faith Medical and Laboratory Clinic in Red-Light, Paynesville, Rep. Chiewolo described the Liberia Clubfoot Program as one of the country’s most impactful child health initiatives and urged the government to take greater ownership of its operations.
The event was celebrated under the global theme, “Leave No Clubfoot Child Behind.”
“Clubfoot treatment in Liberia should not remain a private initiative. It is a national responsibility,” Rep. Chiewolo said. “We are calling on the Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Health, to fully embrace and nationalize the program so that every child born with clubfoot can receive treatment regardless of where they live.”
Clubfoot is a congenital condition that causes one or both feet to turn inward or downward. Although the condition is not painful, untreated cases can result in long-term disability, mobility challenges, social stigma, and exclusion from everyday activities.
Through the use of the internationally recognized Ponseti Method, a non-surgical treatment approach, thousands of Liberian children have successfully overcome the condition and gone on to live normal, active lives.
Rep. Chiewolo, who founded and continues to champion the program through the Faith Clinical Orthopedic Rehabilitation Center (FACORC), said the initiative has become a model of success since its establishment in 2011.
According to him, the program currently operates in 12 of Liberia’s 15 counties and has provided treatment and rehabilitation services to more than 7,000 Liberians, primarily children.
“Children born with clubfoot can now receive treatment free of charge in Liberia,” he noted. “Many of these children who would have otherwise faced a lifetime of disability are now walking, running, attending school, and pursuing their dreams.”
Despite these achievements, Chiewolo emphasized that long-term sustainability remains a challenge without stronger government involvement. He proposed that the initiative be formally integrated into the national healthcare system and rebranded as the Liberia National Clubfoot Program.
“We appreciate our partners, but for long-term success, the program must become part of the national health policy,” he said. “This is not an individual project; it is a national program that deserves national support.”
The lawmaker also commended development partners, including MiracleFeet, the Ministry of Health, CHILD, and FACORC, for their continued support in expanding access to treatment and rehabilitation services across Liberia.
World Clubfoot Day is observed annually in honor of Dr. Ignacio Ponseti, the pioneer of the Ponseti Method. This year’s celebration in Liberia highlighted both the significant progress made in treating clubfoot and the need for continued efforts to ensure universal access to care.
As the country continues to expand treatment services, Rep. Chiewolo reaffirmed his commitment to a future where every child born with clubfoot has the opportunity to walk, run, and thrive.
“Together, we can ensure that no clubfoot child is left behind,” he concluded.
