Guwahati, June 3: An estimated 1,300 infants are born with clubfoot disorder in Assam every year.

The disorder, if left untreated, can result in deformity, experts said during a meeting organised at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital here.

The meeting was organised by Cure International India, a national healthcare organisation working in collaboration with different state governments, on the occasion of World Clubfoot Day today.

Clubfoot disorder is a congenital disorder in which a foot or feet of a child appears twisted inside. As such the child has difficulty walking and performing other activities. This disorder is however, completely curable with proper treatment. Research is still on to find the exact cause of the disorder. But it is not hereditary.

“Many infants are born with clubfoot disorder that is characterised by twisted feet. At our clinic in GMCH we receive a minimum of 10 new cases every month. The disorder can result in deformity of the feet of an affected child. Treatment is available that can completely cure him. A child should be brought for treatment as soon as the deformity is detected,” said Rontu Sangma, Northeast manager of Cure International India.

The state has three clinics started by Cure Clubfoot Assam (the state chapter of Cure International India) at GMCH, Assam Medical College and Hospital and Silchar Medical College and Hospital.

The three clinics were set up after the organisation signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Assam government in 2012 to provide free treatment to children with clubfoot deformity.

For treatment a patient has to visit the clinic every week. It usually takes three to four years for the child to be completely cured. “As the disorder is related to bones in the foot, it takes a few years to be cured completely. However once a child is cured, he can perform all the activities normally,” Sangma said.