The United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are an urgent call for action by all countries in a global partnership. They recognise that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.

RunFree2030, by increasing access to clubfoot services, contributes to several SDGs.

SDG 1: No poverty

More than 90% of babies with clubfoot are born are in Low- and Middle-Income countries (LMIC) with limited access to quality treatment. This often results in permanent impairment that affects their opportunity to attend school. Adults with the condition are more likely to live in poverty due to missed employment opportunities. Families often experience financial distress due to lost income while pursuing healthcare. Untreated clubfoot places a high burden on communities due to loss of productivity and decreased economic contribution by individuals with the condition, ultimately placing an added burden on a nation’s health and welfare systems.

Quality clubfoot treatment enables access to education and employment, therefore reducing the financial burden on the individual, family and society.

SDG 3: Good health and wellbeing

In 2023, 80% of babies born with clubfoot in LMIC did not start treatment in their first year of life, and over two million still live with life-long challenges due to lack of treatment.

Untreated clubfoot takes a heavy toll on the well-being of affected children, as well as their families and society. Children with disabilities experience poorer mental health, more abuse and exclusion, bullying, and missed educational opportunities compared to their peers. Their families often experience emotional distress due to isolation and stigma.

Effective clubfoot treatment improves the health, well-being and long-term prospects of children born with clubfoot, as well as that of their families, communities, and wider national health systems.

SDG 4: Quality education

Children with disabilities often miss more educational opportunities than their peers. Walking long distances to school with an untreated clubfoot can be painful and take a long time, causing many childer to miss out on their education. Children with disabilities also face more bullying than their peers, which can lead to distress in the school setting.

Treating clubfoot improves mobility and decreases stigma, enabling children to have equal access to educational opportunities.

SDG 10: Reduced inequalities

Poor access to essential surgeries and rehabilitation for children with birth defects in LMIC is a health inequality encountered by the majority of babies born with clubfoot.

Increased access to timely, quality clubfoot treatment reduces the inequity caused by limited healthcare services, and eliminates the long-term impairment that the child would otherwise face and provides more equitable educational and employment opportunities throughout their life.

SDG 16: Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Children with disabilities experience poorer mental health, more violence and abuse, exclusion, and bullying. Living in fragile humanitarian settings (areas of high conflict, food insecurity, and limited access to healthcare) increases these risks, and children with disabilities, including untreated clubfoot, are disproportionately affected.

Clubfoot care that is integrated within national health systems and other institutions, with increased government provision, builds capacity for stronger, more sustainable services that better protect children now and into the future.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the goals

RunFree2030 is led by Global Clubfoot Initiative, a collective of 60+ international and national NGOs that work collaboratively to scale up clubfoot service delivery, increase awareness and advocate for children born with clubfoot. This collaboration allows us to build strong, efficient systems, avoid duplication and wastage of resources, and share best practices across the world.

Equitable partnerships are a guiding principle of our strategy, with strong collaboration between civil society organisations, governments, and other institutional partners. Active partnership between these groups drives implementation of clubfoot programmes, leveraging existing resources and strengthening the capacity to treat more children.

With thanks to Dr Salimah Walani, from MiracleFeet, for her contribution to this page.

RunFree2030 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals