Aadin’s journey to walk for life

Aadin* is one of 4,000 Bangladeshi children born with clubfoot every year. Clubfoot is a significant challenge for disadvantaged families, who can’t afford treatment and face social stigma due to lack of awareness about the condition. Children with clubfoot are often kept out of school and struggle to find work later in life, resorting to menial labour or even begging.

When Aadin* was born with both his feet twisted inward, his parents were dismayed. They had never heard of clubfoot and didn’t know if the condition could be treated. They earned a living through fishing, and worried about whether they could afford doctors’ fees.

Aadin as a baby with bilateral clubfoot

Fortunately, a family member let Aadin’s parents know about Walk for Life – Bangladesh’s national clubfoot program. In 2015, Aadin attended his first appointment at a Walk for Life clinic in Bhola District and began treatment that same day.

Walk for Life physiotherapists used the Ponseti method, which involves gentle manipulation of the feet using casts and braces, to gradually bring Aadin’s feet into the correct alignment.

Five years later, Aadin completed his treatment and can now walk and run, and his parents are thrilled to see their son playing with other children. Aadin is one of over 28,000 children who have been treated by Walk for Life.

Read about the philanthropist behind this program

* Name changed

This project is supported by The Glencoe Foundation and by the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).