RAG4Clubfoot loses a wonderful Champion with the passing of Herb Wilson
RAG4Cluboot honors our founder and hero, Herb Wilson. We could not have asked for a better champion. Under his leadership and vision, this group is making a positive impact across the globe. His humanitarian efforts are a model for us all. He is dearly missed.
Current Ponseti Method Training Projects
Argentina initiates Ponseti Method Training Activities
Training for the treatment of clubfoot with the Ponseti Method is being carried out in Argentina. It has been a very productive and high-quality experience due to the excellence of the trainers, Dr. Mónica Nogueira and Dr. José Morcuende. There are 8 participants, from 8 public hospitals in the country. The course consists of theoretical content with talks, practice with manual work and plaster training, discussion of cases and patients in hospitals. We are very happy to be able to carry out this experience.
Written by: Dr. Miguel J.M. Paz
Jefe del Servicio de Ortopedia y Traumatología Infantil
Hospital Universitario Austral
Final evaluations to begin in Brazil
The Brazil team is proposing to start final evaluations that were interrupted back in March 2020 with COVID-19 travel restrictions. Instead of trainers visiting clinics, the team proposes a series of five symposiums, one in each city where the initial trainings were conducted: Recife, Florianópolis, Belém, Cuiabá, and Rio de Janeiro. The purpose of the symposiums is to evaluate each trainee; gather data on diagnoses, treatments and outcomes; facilitate interactions among and between trainees and trainers; help problem-solve and to acquaint regional health ministry officials, hospital administrators and local Rotarians with the Ponseti Method and the Global Grant project. The planned symposiums are the final step left to complete the grant.
Written by Dr. Monica Paschoal Nogueira
Developing Project
Ponseti Method Training for the Treatment of Clubfoot in Ecuador
Members of Rotary Club of St. Helena (CA, D5130) and Rotary Club of Quito Equinoccio (Ecuador, D4400) are in discussions to partner to create a two-year Ponseti Method training grant in Ecuador. It is estimated 440 babies are born with clubfoot each year. The developing project would provide comprehensive Ponseti Method training of 12 orthopaedic surgeons and the establishment of 12 Ponseti Method Reference Clinics. Three Ponseti International affiliated trainers will serve as instructors and mentors. Additional partner organizations include: Ponseti International Association Latin America (PIA/LA); and orthopaedic societies – SCCOT, SLAOTI, SEOT (Ecuador Orthopaedic Society).
The Latin American Symposium “#SomosPaz” 2021 was the first Latin American three days conference organized by Rotary, that sought to inspire and promote the construction of peace in Latin America. Positive Peace, that is the presence of attitudes, institutions and structures that build and sustain peaceful societies” has been the leading theme of the first symposium that took place from April 22 till 24, 2021. That symposium was organized at the initiative and under the leadership of District 4905 of Argentina. More than 2000 persons participated in the event. The Symposium has been conceived as a space of inspiration, reflection, dialogue and action for peace in Latin America. Its purpose is to identify Latin American problems and needs that can be addressed and made visible, promoting action for the well-being of the region. The Symposium is also to promote access to Rotary Districts, Clubs, Rotary Members, Rotaract, of peace building experiences, sharing tools of action, concrete projects contributing to inner peace and peace in our societies. With these in mind, the second Latin American Symposium “#SomosPaz 2022” was organized from March 24 till 26, 2022, under the leadership of Rotary Districts of Mexico. Very early in the discussions related to the organization of the 2022 Symposium, an important topic emerged “Health for Peace”, as it was considered that, health, as a fundamental human right, was a critical element, if not a condition for peaceful societies. As part of “Health for Peace”, first, several interviews were organized from 22 February - 16 March, 2022.
Marcel Van Opstal, President of the Rotary Club Bogota Centennial 2021-2022, Member of the Rotary Action Group for Peace (RAGFP) and Board member of the Rotary Action Group for Clubfoot (RAG4Clubfoot) was interviewed on March 10, 2022.
ALL Iowa District Conference in Coralville, IA
April 22 - 23, 2022
Find RAG4Clubfoot in the House of Friendship!
2022 Rotary International Convention
Visit us in the House of Friendship: Booth 1018
Houston, Texas - June 4 - 8
Looking for an informative club program? Invite RAG4Clubfoot to share with your members how Rotarians are impacting the lives of children born with clubfoot. We are prepared to join via Zoom or other webinar platforms.
BECOME A MEMBER:
Become a member! Show your support of our mission that all children receive Ponseti Clubfoot Treatment. If you would like to become a member for $25, please use this link to do so https://rag4clubfoot.org/become-a-member/
The Rotary Action Group, RAG4Clubfoot, is a group of Rotarians whose purpose is to mobilize Rotarians and provide global leadership to support timely Ponseti Method treatment and appropriate care for all children born with clubfoot. This Rotary Action Group operates in accordance with Rotary International policy, but is not an agency of, or controlled by, Rotary International.
