Mrs Soludo partners group to provide free cleft lip surgeries for children
The wife of the Anambra State Governor, Dr. Nonye Soludo, in collaboration with the Smile Train organisation, has provided free reconstructive surgeries to children born with cleft lips and palates across the state.
Soludo told newsmen on Saturday at the General Hospital, Umueri, in Anambra East Local Government Area (LGA), that the free surgeries were to give every child with a cleft lip and palate the opportunity to reclaim their dignity.
She said, “When it comes to mothers and children in the state, I do not joke with them. Most of these mothers are confused after giving birth to children with this kind of deformity.
“And since it is something we can solve, we decided to partner with Smile Train International, an NGO that funds cleft reconstruction surgeries, to help these families.
“I urge pregnant women to eat healthy food and attend antenatal care to prevent giving birth to babies with deformities,” she said.
Also speaking, Prof. Titus Chukwuanukwu, a Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive surgeon at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, described cleft palate as a congenital anomaly that a baby is born with.
Chukwuanukwu, also the director of Smile Train in Anambra, said children with cleft lips become malnourished and suffer a lot of ailments because they often have difficulty sucking, feeding, and speaking.
He identified lack of awareness, stigmatisation, financial constraints, and unfounded myths and misinformation as barriers to cleft treatment and care in the country.
“Cleft lip or palate is not a life-threatening defect. It is not a curse; it is not caused by an evil spirit, and it is not the fault of the parents of such children.
“We are having this free surgery outreach to create awareness and for people to see the marvellous transformation after the surgery.
This will motivate those who are hiding their children at home to come out and seek medical help.
“If those children grow up without reconstructive surgeries and become withdrawn, their education and social life will be hampered. Some of them even become depressed, aggressive, and feel hopeless,” he said.
The Consultant said five children with cleft lips and palates will undergo surgeries for a start, and as time goes on, more children will benefit from the free surgical outreach.
He said the average cost for a cleft lip reconstructive surgery is between N500,000 and N600,000. However, they will be performing the surgery and aftercare treatment for the patients for free.
