04/08/2025
🦶 Rotary District 3011 – Clubfoot Seminar: A Day of Healing, Hope & Humanity
Held on 2nd August 2025 at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi
Organised by Rotary Club of Delhi South in association with Rotary District 3011 & GRIPMER, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital
On 2nd August 2025, Rotary District 3011, in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Delhi South and GRIPMER, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, hosted a landmark Clubfoot Awareness & Training Seminar at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi. The event was conceptualised and led under the guidance of:
• Organising Chairman: Prof. Dr. Manish Dhawan, Professor & Senior Consultant Orthopaedics, SGRH; Chairman, Clubfoot Committee, Rotary Club of Delhi South; Co-Chairman, Clubfoot Committee, Rotary District 3011
• Organising Secretary: Dr. Brajesh Nandan, Senior Consultant Orthopaedics, SGRH; Specialist in Bone Tumour Surgery
⸻
🎓 A Unique Dual-Segment Seminar
This one-of-a-kind seminar was structured to serve both the Rotary community and the medical fraternity:
• Morning Session – For Rotarians, focusing on the burden of clubfoot in India, the effectiveness of the Ponseti method, and Rotary’s role in providing timely care.
• Afternoon Session – Hands-on training for 70 orthopedic postgraduate students from Delhi in Ponseti casting techniques.
The event drew over 60 Rotarians and 70 medical postgraduates, creating a dynamic and impactful atmosphere.
⸻
👨⚕️ Esteemed Faculty for the Training Session:
• Prof. Mathew Varghese – Renowned Orthopaedic Surgeon, St. Stephen’s Hospital
• Prof. Dr. Manish Dhawan – Professor, SGRH; Chairman, Clubfoot Committee, RCDS; Co-Chairman, Clubfoot Committee, Rotary District 3011
• Dr. Atul Vaish – Ex-HOD, Northern Railway Central Hospital; Co-Chairman, Clubfoot Committee, Rotary District 3011
• Dr. Vineet Arora – Senior Consultant, DDU Hospital
• Dr. Brajesh Nandan – Senior Consultant, Orthopaedics, SGRH; Specialist, Bone Tumour Surgery
⸻
🎖️ Distinguished Dignitaries Present on Stage:
• Prof. Dr. Ajay Swaroop – Chairman, Board of Management, SGRH; Renowned ENT Surgeon (Chief Guest)
• Rtn. Dr. Ravinder Gugnani – District Governor, Rotary District 3011; Privileged to have a Rotarian who is also a distinguished medical specialist (Chief Guest)
• Padma Shri Prof. Dr. D. S. Rana – Chairman, Board of Trustees, SGRH; Renowned Nephrologist (Guest of Honour)
• Prof. Dr. Jayshree Sood – Vice Chairperson, Board of Management, SGRH; Renowned Anaesthesiologist and Pain Consultant (Guest of Honour)
• Padma Bhushan Prof. Dr. B. K. Rao – Former Chairman, Board of Management, SGRH; Renowned Anaesthesiologist (Guest of Honour)
• Prof. Dr. V. B. Bhasin – Chairman, Department of Orthopaedics, SGRH; Senior Arthroscopic Surgeon
• Rtn. Kaval Verma – President, Rotary Club of Delhi South
• Rtn. Amarnath Goel – Senior Rotarian & Philanthropist
⸻
🌟 Felicitation Ceremony – Honouring 16 Clubfoot Champions
The emotional heart of the program was the felicitation of 16 children who had overcome severe clubfoot deformities, thanks to timely medical intervention and Rotary’s support.
Among them, Sangeeta, an abandoned baby with arthrogryposis and multiple deformities, now stands as a beacon of resilience. After 22 surgeries performed at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, she regained functional mobility. Today, she holds a BA in English Honours, a PG in Social Work, and is beginning her PhD. She works efficiently using voice-to-text tools despite her physical challenges.
District Governor Rtn. Dr. Ravinder Gugnani, moved by her story, spontaneously announced the donation of a laptop from Rotary to support her academic journey.
Another inspiring case was Simon, a clubfoot-treated child who now competes at the junior national level in sports, proving how proper care transforms potential.
⸻
🏥 Sir Ganga Ram Hospital – Excellence with Compassion
Though a private trust institution, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital has an enduring commitment to serving the economically disadvantaged. Over 30% of its beds are reserved for free and subsidised treatment, making it a leading example of how medical excellence can align with humanitarian service. Many complex surgeries for physically challenged children, including clubfoot, are routinely done here without burdening the families financially.
⸻
🤝 Rotary’s Lifelong Commitment to Mobility & Dignity
Rotary Club of Delhi South sponsors ₹4,000 per child for new clubfoot cases, with a current commitment of ₹4 lakhs. In collaboration with CURE International India Trust, this initiative is scaling across the nation.
“Let us pledge – as Rotarians and orthopedic surgeons – to transform lives, restore mobility, and return dignity to every physically challenged child,” said Prof. Dr. Manish Dhawan in his closing remarks.
Going forward, Rotarians across India, in partnership with CURE, will actively work to control and eliminate this debilitating deformity on a pan-India scale, ensuring every child walks with confidence and hope.
⸻
Report by:
Prof. Dr. Manish Dhawan
Organising Chairman – Clubfoot Seminar
Professor & Senior Consultant Orthopaedics, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital
Chairman – Clubfoot Committee, Rotary Club of Delhi South
Co-Chairman – Clubfoot Committee, Rotary District 3011
Past Secretary General – IOA | Past President – ASAMI India
President-Elect – Rotary Club Delhi South
