At
Anushkaa Foundation, we believe that no child should miss out on treatment for
clubfoot because of where they live or how much they can spend on travel.
In 2024,
we carried out a dipstick survey across 27 of our clubfoot clinics in 5 states,
speaking to 103 parents and caregivers. Their voices remind us that behind
every statistic lies a family’s journey.
A
Parent’s Journey
Imran, a
father from Bhawanipur village in Moradabad district, remembers the day his son
Arif was born with clubfoot. Fear gripped him as he thought about his child’s
future and whether his son would ever walk.
Hope came
when the RBSK team told him about the free treatment available at the district
hospital in Moradabad through Anushkaa Foundation. At the hospital, Dr.
Sanaullah Khan and Program Executive Mr. Irfan Ali reassured him that with
proper treatment, Arif could grow up healthy and strong.
The
treatment began, and with regular follow-ups, Arif’s feet gradually improved.
Today, he is walking normally.
But the
journey was not easy. The hospital was 65 kilometres away from Imran’s village.
As a daily wage labourer, Imran often had to miss work to make the trip. His
day would start at 7 in the morning, with an auto ride to the nearest town and
then a bus to Moradabad. The travel was long and tiring, but his determination
never wavered. “Every time I saw my child getting better, I felt all the
sacrifice was worth it,” he says with relief and gratitude.
Distance
and Time
a)
76
percent of parents rely on public transport
b)
40
percent travel more than 50 kilometres one way
c)
60
percent spend over an hour each way, while 30 percent spend more than two hours
d)
On
average, a single clinic visit means 3 to 4 hours of travel
The
Cost of Access
a)
The
average cost per visit is ₹394
b) For
rural families, it rises to ₹423
c)
For
urban families, it is ₹145
d)
Across
the full treatment cycle, this adds up to nearly ₹10,000 for each family
Who
Travels
Almost 9
out of 10 children come with both parents and caregivers. This is not just
about transport. It is about emotional strength, shared responsibilities, and
the determination to make sure the child never misses an appointment.
What
This Means
Behind
every clinic visit is sacrifice. Families give up time, income, and energy. For
rural parents, the strain is even greater. Yet they come because they know
treatment is possible and they believe their child deserves to walk.