In Zimbabwe it is difficult to get experts who specialise in the care of the foot and ankle as their primary focus.
By Moses Mugugunyeki
It is a medical field that has been reserved for a handful of medical experts, mainly white people. We have instances where patients, particularly those who are diabetic, have their limbs amputated when such surgical means is not necessary.
However, Diana Chapoterera who has ventured into this exceptional medical field that focuses on the care of the foot and ankles, believes regular foot care can help prevent severe foot sores that are difficult to treat. “Proper foot care helps prevent problems with your feet and ensure prompt medical care when problems occur,” said Chapoterera, a podiatrist.
A podiatrist is a medical expert who diagnoses and treats conditions of the foot, ankle and related structures of the leg.
Chapoterera who studied this exceptional medical field at the University of Johannesburg in South Africa is back in Zimbabwe where her chosen career is not popular.
“We don’t have as many podiatrists in Zimbabwe. It is a medical field that is not popular but necessary. I have engaged the Ministry of Health and Child Care if they could create a post for a podiatrist,” she said. The Waterfalls-born podiatrist said Zimbabwe has a handful of podiatrists and many patients with foot and ankle problems were attended to by medical doctors.
“Podiatrists’ main focus is preventing, diagnosing, and treating conditions associated with the foot and ankle. Medical doctors are not specialists in this field and that is a challenge to our health care system here in Zimbabwe,” said Chapoterera who is working for the Zimbabwe Diabetic Association.
She said she wants to see people happy and healthy.
“I am inspired by seeing people being happy and in good health. I have always wanted to be a medical doctor. At school I did First Aid and I have always wanted to do a career in that field,” she said. Born in a family of three, to parents who are both teachers, Chapoterera did her primary education at Prospect Primary School before moving to Eaglesvale for her secondary education.
When asked about how she became a podiatrist, she said; “I never applied for this programme in the first place. I had applied for Radiography, but the University of Johannesburg offered me Podiatry,” Chapoterera said. “The programme is not even popular in South Africa. We were only 11 students doing the programme. In this other group they are eight students, and they are all South Africans,” she added.
Chapoterera said South African universities were better equipped than local universities, which was the reason why she opted to study outside Zimbabwe.
“We still have a long way to go. In Zimbabwe courses offered by our universities are limited. I opted to go to South Africa because it’s close to home. The universities in South Africa are better equipped.”
“My intention is to open my own medical centre where I take care of people’s feet and ankles. At the moment we are trying to come up with a clinic at the Zimbabwe Diabetic Association”.
She said her foot care clinic would look at various foot problems that include bunions (a deformity often blamed on wearing tight, narrow shoes and high heels) and pronation (the way the foot rolls inward when you walk and run).
“These are some of the foot problems that we have lived with. I hope to take care of such conditions and come up with proper devices and shoes suitable for people with such problems,” she said.
“I would also like to see more Zimbabweans trained in podiatry and spread our services to different parts of the country,” she said.
However, Chapoterera insists that people should also take care of their own feet by inspecting and washing them regularly, trimming toenails carefully, wearing clean, dry socks and buying shoes that fit properly. She said regular foot checkups were important.
