STEPS

STEPS Charity NPC is a national and regional non-profit organisation and social enterprise working for the eradication of clubfoot as a disability in Southern and East Africa.

Their story started in 2003 with the birth of a boy with clubfoot in South Africa. After successful treatment by Dr Ponseti in Iowa, Karen Moss returned home and told the story of her son’s successful treatment to local doctors. Karen founded STEPS in 2005 to introduce and promote the Ponseti method of clubfoot treatment and to support families going through the process.

STEPS held its first training in 2006 to introduce the Ponseti method to the South African orthopaedics community, and to develop consensus that the Ponseti method is the best treatment for clubfoot.

The second workshop was held in 2007 and focused on public health facilities, rural clinics and sustainability. Ugandan orthotists taught local technicians to make low-cost clubfoot braces. Chris Hani Baragwanath’s workshop in Soweto produces 50-60 of these braces per month to sustain successful treatment.