Joyful Strides: Indus Hospital’s ‘Clubfoot Se Jeet ka Jashan’ Rings in Success as 100 Children Walk Tall After Completing Pehla Qadam Program”

“Clubfoot Se Jeet ka Jashan” is an annual event held by Indus Hospital and Health Network (IHHN) to celebrate the success of children completing the four-year treatment for clubfoot through IHHN’s Pehla Qadam Program. This year, 100 children at The Indus Hospital (TIH), Korangi, completed their treatment and participated in the exciting festivities. Celebrations took place on December 23, 2023, in Karachi. Additionally, the event took place at Recep Tayyip Erdogan Hospital, Muzaffargarh, where 35 children completed clubfoot treatment – to read more, click here.

Indus Hospital, Korangi Campus

The event was attended by children and their families, media personnel, and clubfoot program team members. All gathered to celebrate the children’s first walk and acknowledge the remarkable efforts of each child and their family in complying with the long course of treatment.

Also in attendance was a very special guest – Meher-un-Nissa Amer Haider. She was accompanied by her grandmother who is one of the founders and chief drivers of IHHN’s Pehla Qadam program.

The story of IHHN’s Pehla Qadam program starts with Meher-un-Nissa Amer Haider who was born with clubfoot. Her family searched desperately for her treatment which was eventually done outside of Pakistan. After experiencing the plight of children with clubfoot and their caregivers first-hand, they felt strongly that such quality treatment should be available in Pakistan to all children in need. Determined to see their vision realized, in 2011 they joined hands with IHHN with whom they launched a service delivery program – Pehla Qadam, to treat children with clubfoot through the Ponseti method.

The Pehla Qadam Program at Indus Hospital, Korangi Campus, now receives patients from all over the country and is part of a global commitment to eliminate untreated Clubfoot. Since its inception, more than 1,000 patients have been enrolled in the program. To date, Meher-un-Nissa’s family has been funding the program through the Amer Haider Charitable Foundation which holds fundraisers all year round to run the program.

Addressing the audience, Meher-un-Nissa said, “I am honored to be here today, witnessing the fruit of my family’s and Indus Hospital’s hard work in providing children with clubfoot with comprehensive quality care free of cost. Having watched my parents and grandparents work so tirelessly to fundraise for the Pehal Qadam program I feel confident and proud to continue their good work.”

In recognition of her commitment to IHHN and its heartfelt cause, Meher-un-Nissa was awarded a Young Ambassador Sheild by Dr. Abdul Bari Khan, President of IHHN.

The events’ entertainment included a thrilling magic show, a puppet show, and a series of juggling acts, each of which took turns gracing the stage and engaging the audience. Certificates were also distributed to the Pehla Qadam volunteers and team members to acknowledge their valued efforts. Afterward, refreshments were served. Each child left the happy occasion with a colorful goodie bag bursting with a school bag, coloring books, small toys, and art supplies.

In addition to celebrating TIH’s little patients and their caregivers, the event helped spread awareness about clubfoot – a condition in which a newborn’s foot or feet are rotated internally at the ankle. In Pakistan, many taboos and superstitions surround the condition and place unfair blame on the parents of the child. This prevents them from seeking proper treatment for their child. Pehla Qadam (PQ) strives to eliminate these dangerous misconceptions and provide quality care to children with clubfoot enabling them to lead normal lives.