Vanuatu siblings walk after Canberra clubfoot care

Canberra Care Restores Mobility for Vanuatu Siblings Born With Clubfoot

Thirteen-year-old Anis Kassau and his three-year-old sister Melanie can finally walk after receiving seven months of donated surgeries and physiotherapy in Canberra, according to ABC News. Born on the volcanic island of Tanna in Vanuatu with severe structural talipes, the siblings lived for years with uncorrected clubfoot that left their feet turned backwards before a humanitarian program facilitated their transport to Australia.

Physiotherapists Apply Stretching and Plaster Casts to Children

Within 24 hours of arrival in Australia, Canberra Health Services senior physiotherapist Melanie Ryan applied stretching techniques and fitted the children with plaster casts reaching up to their thighs. The plasters were changed once or twice a week, despite typical resistance from three-year-old Melanie.

The treatment was supported by physiotherapist Dan Myyrylainen.

Operational Framework of the Medical Program

The specialized care was delivered through a memorandum of understanding established between the ACT government and Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children (ROMAC). Established nearly 40 years ago, ROMAC has assisted approximately 600 children, with the Canberra operation launching in 2006 to handle up to four children annually.

Retired nurse and midwife Sandra Goldstraw, who helped establish the Canberra operation, hosted the Kassau family in her home alongside her husband Brian. Ms. Goldstraw has accommodated 33 Pacific Islander children through the initiative. During their seven-month stay, thirteen-year-old Anis attended Gold Creek High School for two terms with the assistance of dedicated educational support.

Sandra Goldstraw Prepares to Host Infant from Vanuatu

The humanitarian pipeline continues as Sandra Goldstraw prepares to host another mother and infant from Vanuatu. A three-month-old boy with a lung condition is scheduled to stay following his discharge from a Canberra special care nursery. The broader operational capacity of the program remains tied to volunteer host families and medical partnerships within the ACT health network.