Steps2Walk to provide 20 Namibians with the ability to walk again
Creating new avenues
The Steps2Walk non-profit organisation and team of doctors are once again availing their surgical skills to 20 Namibians with foot, ankle and leg deformities - all free of charge.According to the founder and president of the foundation, Dr Mark Myerson, one of these surgeries can cost approximately N$300 000. The surgeries will take place at the Lady Pohamba Private Hospital which will be providing all the equipment to enable these surgeries. In addition to the surgeries, training of doctors will take place. The surgeries will be live-streamed for doctors to access and view for training.
"This is not something we can do without everyone's help," said Myerson.
Local and financial support is provided through Nedbank and First National Bank. However, the treatment is provided free by a group of volunteer surgeons from all over the world.
Across Namibia, the team of surgeons has operated on over 100 patients. These include persons with cerebral palsy, clubbed feet, deformities at birth, and patients that were in a car accident and need surgery.
Myerson said that more than eight in 1 000 people in Southern Africa have clubbed feet, whereas globally the number is one in 1 000.
Many of the patients were screened by the state. The patients are chosen according to who would benefit most, which is an extremely difficult choice to make, Myerson explained. "Children who cannot wear shoes, in turn, lead to them not being able to attend school because they need to walk to get there. This is not just about taking a foot and making it straight. We have to think about many other factors like the child, the community, the family and it is all about those most in need."
One of the beneficiaries, Aina Daniel (24), sprained her ankle in 2014 and due to not receiving a cast at the hospital, developed a tumour in her leg. This is the third operation that she will be undergoing through Steps2Walk.
Steps2Walk has performed over 1 400 surgical procedures in more than 24 countries while more than 500 surgeons have received training through the organisation.