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We welcome Ralph Hammond (PDG 7910) to the Board!
A life-long resident of Bedford, Massachusetts, USA, Ralph holds a B.S. in Education from Framingham State College, and an M.S. in Education and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study from Lesley College. Ralph Hammond has served the Bedford Public Schools from 1969 to 1995 as a classroom teacher, vice principal, director of computer education,  finally as elementary school principal.

Hammond has been a member of the Rotary Club of Bedford since 1990, serving as club president, was International Service Director and has been the District and International Grant Coordinator for 20 years.  He presided as Governor for District 7910, Central Massachusetts.  Involvement with the Rotary Action Group for Clubfoot (RAG4Clubfoot) is new for Ralph.  Involvement and inclusion of students with disabilities while teacher and administrator is a special passion that began in his second year as a teacher, through his last year as a principal, and continues today.

Throughout his life, Hammond has believed that learning through sharing and teamwork is what makes learning and life fun, effective and meaningful.

We are thrilled to have him join the team!

 

View the RAG4Clubfoot Board members.

Developing our Strategic Action Plan 2023-2026

RAG4Clubfoot is developing its Strategic Action Plan for 2023 - 2026. Steve Sorensen, member of RC Bettendorf (Iowa), is facilitator.  To start, all RAG4Clubfoot board members completed an anonymous survey identifying accomplishments, challenges, and opportunities during the past two years.  Steve complied a summary of the responses which was shared with all Board members prior to a Retreat on October 19.

Several Board members (Chris Knapp, Tom Cook, Brock Earnhardt, Jose Morcuende and Tomeka Petersen) met in-person while a few members joined via Zoom (Jay Eastman, Lesley Dakin, Marcel van Opstal and Astrid Medina).  Steve vigorously took notes and captured ideas shared for future priorities.

The next step is for an Executive Committee to use the strategic plan framework/template to translate identified priorities into actions to be taken, defining by when and how.


We look forward to the final plan!
Anne Oyoo, founder of Clubfoot Society Kenya, member of RAG4Clubfoot and RC World Disability Advocacy e-club completes a grant application for $1,550 in funding to purchase a sewing machine to sew shoes specially designed for adults living with clubfoot.  Click here to watch a video.

Anne is also interested to create a sensitization campaign in Kenya to raise awareness about stigma associated with disability.
PROJECT UPDATES

Brazil (GG1638412) Ponseti Method Training Grant

Written by Dr. Monica Nogueira, RC Saõ Paulo-Sudeste
 
Brazilian global grant 1638412 -Erradicando o Pé Torto no Brasil (dist 4420, 6000, 5970 and 5300)  is progressing and in September we´ve been in Belem for the evaluation of the north region. We had presentations of the doctors from the 4 states, and doctors from Belem (Raul Boetger, Paulo Braga) showed a structured reference Ponseti clinic in their new children Hospital. The state of Amazonas is being organized, and putting together forces to increment their clinic in the public hospitals. We had very good news from Rio Branco, Acre, with Dr Nelson Marquesini, with a reference clinic very organized there, and we had a great opportunity to train Dr Roberto Dourado, from Macapá, Amapá, and he has the support of the parents association there, very active.

Iowa’s Gift to the World funding for 5 symposiums

The north region evaluation is the second of 5 different evaluation simposiae, one per Brazilian region. We check if the clinics were implemented, if they are working well, and all the indicators for a good reference clinic.

The first was in Recife, Pernambuco, for the Northest region, in April 29 and 30, 2022.

We had a very important symposium in São Carlos, in June 11 and 12, for the evaluation of all national foot abduction braces for clubfoot.

Sao Paulo meeting of the Ponseti Method June 10 – 11 in Sao Carlos Eradicating (GG1638412) and orthotizing (GG1981190) of congenital clubfoot.

There  are 3 more important symposiae, scheduled for next year: Evaluation of South Region, in Porto Alegre March 24 and 25th, evaluation of the Center West Region, in Campo Grande, May 26 and 27th, and evaluation of Region Southeast in Rio de Janeiro, August 18 and 19th 2023.
 

GG1981190  “Ortetizando o pé torto no Brasil” 
(English translation, Orthetizing clubfoot in Brazil)

3000 braces from the 3 best braces were bought by a new global grant 1981190 “Ortetizando o pé torto no Brasil” Rotary districts 4540 RC S Carlos Norte, 4420 RC SP Sudeste, and Santo Andre, and districts 1870 and 1830, from RC Willich, Germany and doctors from the whole State of São Paulo presented their 21 ponseti reference clinics with wonderful results.


Argentina
Written by Elisa Oviedo, RC of Ground Bourg

In March 2022, training was carried out by the Vocation Training Team (VTT) Dr. Morcuende, Dr. Paz and Dra. Nogueira.  Initially for seven hospitals in Argentina where 70% of clubfoot cases are found.  We also delivered 500 splints and equipped the clinics so that the Ponseti Clinics could function.  We also delivered printed material.  The second visit of the VTT was in October, finding the hospitals in full application of the Ponseti Method.  Two hospitals were added that we had not originally planned.

Being such a successful project, Rotary and the World Health Organization invited grant primary contacts to present at the WHO headquarters in Geneva to coincide with World Day 2022 Polio and Beyond, October 22.

We transferred the invitation to the VTT, happily they were able to travel to Geneva.  Dr. Morcuende gave a 7 minute lecture with a very concise and sensitive PowerPoint presentation and answered questions.  This project was selected along with 20 - 25 other Global Grants from around the world focused on Maternal and Child Health, a privilege!

 

World Polio Day 2022 and Beyond:  A healthier future for mothers and children

21 – 22 October  WHO in Geneva

Ponseti Method training program in Argentina
by Dr. Miguel Paz and Dr. Jose Morcuende

Recording of the presentation (at the 14 minute mark)
Click on Breakout Sessions - Focus on the Americas and Beyond (AMR).


*****

Rotary and WHO presented an urgent point in our work to achieve a polio-free world and to adapt the lessons learned to improve health systems worldwide. 

The conference featured: 
  • Regional breakout sessions highlighting Rotary maternal and child health projects 
  • Discussions on community-based solutions to improve global health  
  • A UNICEF session on the power of vaccines 
  • Highlights on Rotary’s Programs of Scale for malaria and maternal-child health
Ponseti Method training projects on the horizon:  Uruguay & Paraguay

We seek Rotary clubs and districts interested to serve as hosts of future Ponseti Method training grants. 

If your district is interested to contribute financially with District Designated Funds (DDF) and/or cash; contact us for more information!


Clubs and individual Rotarians are welcome to contribute also!
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.

To schedule a RAG4Clubfoot presentation, please contact: info@rag4clubfoot.org

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/
Questions?  Contact: info@rag4clubfoot.org
Copyright © 2016-2022  RAG4Clubfoot, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you have shown an interest in RAG4Clubfoot and the activities Rotarians are implementing to train physicians in the Ponseti Method.

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.

Our email address is:
info@rag4clubfoot.org

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RAG4Clubfoot · Iowa · Iowa City, Iowa 52242 · USA

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