CBM co-worker featured in BBC One's 'Super Doctors' series

A BBC documentary series is to feature the work of a CBM-supported orthopaedic surgeon.

Part Three of BBC One's new series 'Super Doctors' features CBM UK-supported orthopaedic surgeon Steve Mannion.

Lord Robert Winston will follow the work of Steve in Malawi, where he uses a little-known physiotherapy technique called 'Ponseti Method' to treat clubfoot.

Dr Bill McAllister (CBM UK National Director, left) with Steve Mannion (CBM Orthopaedic Surgeon, right). Photo: CBM

The treatment, which consists of a series of plaster casts, can be performed without a surgeon. This non-invasive method is crucial, in a country like Malawi that has so few surgeons.

The programme meets 24 year old Martin, who has bilateral clubfoot. He sought traditional treatment from a 'witch doctor' but unfortunately his near 20 year treatment has left him unable to walk and reliant on his tricycle. After travelling for four hours over rough dirt roads, Martin meets Steve and Lord Winston where they examine his feet and the determine whether they can safely operate on him without putting him at risk of infection.

Steve also meets a three month old baby who has begun the Ponseti Method treatment.

Parallels

The programme looks at how the treatment of clubfoot has been undertaken in London and how the Ponseti Method has finally become accepted as a viable option in the United Kingdom.

CBM and its partners - the Ponseti International Association, and Cure International, are targeting ten developing countries where they are building training programmes to develop knowledge and skill sets to improve mobilisation of people with clubfoot.

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