This is Mbone, a young baby from Tanzania. Mbone was born with a unilateral club foot, which will make it difficult for him to learn to walk.
“When the time comes for him to walk he will use the lateral aspect of his right foot for walking if not treated. His gait will be affected as well as his ability to perform other activities.” says our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF).
Without the ability to walk normally, Mbone will likely fall behind in school and in life. Mbone’s parents are small scale farmers, and rely on the often-unpredictable harvest for their income. They work very hard to support their children, but often struggle to make ends meet.
Fortunately, Mbone and his parents came to our medical partner in Tanzania for treatment and Mbone’s club foot can be treated for $1160. With funding, doctors will surgically correct Mbone’s foot, enabling him to develop normally and participate in all the same activities as his peers.
“We are happy to know that such defects can actually be correct and that is what we need for our son: for him to have straight feet so that later on he can walk properly, work hard and be independent,” says Mbone’s mother.
