By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal
The Smile Train International, an organization that treats cleft lips and palate have empowered 20 University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) nurses on post surgical care for patients.
Speaking on the sidelines of the training, Mrs Victoria Ogundipe, the Senior Programme Manager, West Africa, Smile Train, told newsmen in Ilorin, that the programme is part of the weeklong activities, on free surgeries for children with Cleft lips and palate.
She explained that after surgery, the patient remains with the nurses, who are expected to give them quality healthcare for recovery.
“So we are enhancing the skills of the nurses to be able to care for the patients when the doctors are not available and they have finished with the surgery.
“The doctors leave in the night and the nurses are the ones on duty before the doctor comes back.
“This training empowers them to know what to do at any point in time with the patient that are left in their care,” she said.
According to her, the organization have presence in 75 countries across the globe, while also partnering with hospitals.
She added that 38 African countries are also beneficiaries of the humanitarian works of the organization, where comprehensive treatment and care are giving free to patients.
Ogundipe enjoined the participants in the training to make judicious use of the knowledge and to also step it down to other healthcare workers.
Speaking on the surgery, the Smile Train, Senior Programme Manager, West Africa noted that 11 patients with cleft lips were undergoing surgery to repair the deformity.
She expressed delight that the surgical intervention was hitch-free without any death and that the children are recuperating well.
She therefore appealed to parents to access healthcare, if they have children with Cleft lips and palate, which she said, could be treated free.
Also speaking, Prof. AbdulRasheed Nasir, the Team Lead of Smile Train Partners, UITH noted that the the theme of the training was entitled: ” Nursing Care Saves Lives”.
He stated that nursing is one of the pillar of healthcare, adding that nurses are usually with the patient all the time.
Nasir pointed out that the training is meant to build the capacity of nurses to manage patient with Cleft lips and palate.
The surgeon explained further that part of the training is what is called “Basic Life Support Training”, which will help healthcare workers with skills to manage emergencies, anywhere whether in the market, hospital or at home.
“So they have the capacity to resuscitate patients who suddenly collapse, which is actually one of the take-home message in this training,” he said.
Nasir expresses optimism that in the future, such training will become a continuous process for all nurses, in order for patients to receive quality care.
In her appreciative remark, Mrs Funmilola Adepoju, a Participant and Nursing Officer at UITH, described the training as impactful and timely.
She enjoined Smile Train International to make the training a continuous process, so as to empower them more with skills and knowledge in their line of duty, as healthcare workers.
Similarly, Mrs Barakat Adebayo, a parent to one of the babies who received free Cleft lip surgery, commended the organization for the life saving intervention.
She said her baby can now feed and smile without any challenge.
