WACHEF Launches Keke Napep Campaign to Promote Free Clubfoot Treatment in Taraba
By Christiana Babayo
The Women and Children Health Empowerment Foundation (WACHEF) with support from Miracle Feet has launched a public awareness campaign on clubfoot treatment in Taraba State, using commercial tricycles popularly known as Keke Napep to spread information across communities.
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The campaign was flagged off on Wednesday 15th April, 2026 by the organization at the office of the Taraba State Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Association of Nigeria (TASCOTMAN) in Jalingo.
The initiative is part of activities under the Clubfoot programme implemented by WACHEF with support from MiracleFeet, aimed at increasing public awareness about the availability of free treatment for children born with the deformity.
Speaking during the event, WACHEF Programme Officer, Faiza Abubakar Yaro, explained that the project is currently being implemented by WACHEF in three states—Taraba, Sokoto and Katsina, with the goal of ensuring that children born with clubfoot receive early diagnosis and treatment.
She disclosed that in Taraba State, the designated treatment centres are the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jalingo, and Wukari where trained clinic coordinators are available to guide parents and caregivers through the treatment process.
According to her, “the use of tricycles for the campaign was deliberate because they serve as a major means of daily transportation for many residents, making them an effective platform for spreading information across different parts of the state.”
Yaro also noted that children from birth to five years old who are diagnosed with clubfoot can be referred to the clinic for treatment, stressing that the procedure is completely free and does not require surgery.
CAST Technician for the Clubfoot at FMC Jalingo, Tijani Ibrahim, explained that the treatment involves a gradual correction method that uses specially designed casts and braces to align the affected foot over time.
He emphasized the importance of early detection, urging parents and caregivers to bring affected children to the clinic as soon as possible for prompt treatment.
Executive Director of WACHEF, Mrs. Beden Mergu Barnabas, commended the leadership of TASCOTMAN for supporting the campaign and helping to ensure that the awareness message reaches as many communities as possible.
“Clubfoot if left untreated, clubfoot could affect a child’s ability to walk properly, participate in social activities or pursue certain career paths later in life and that reduces a child’s chances of competing favorably with their peers” Barnabas said.
She, however, noted that with the availability of free treatment, children born with the condition now have a better chance of living healthy and productive lives.
In his remarks, the Chairman of TASCOTMAN in Taraba State, Mr. Danladi, thanked WACHEF for the initiative and pledged the cooperation of members of the association in disseminating information about the treatment across the state.
The advocacy campaign forms part of WACHEF’s broader efforts to ensure that families are informed about the availability of treatment and that children born with clubfoot are given the opportunity to receive timely care and lead normal lives.
