Smile Train

By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal

The Smile Train foundation in conjunction with the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), on Monday in Ilorin commenced free surgical intervention for the repair of cleft lips and cleft palate for children across Kwara.

Speaking on the sidelines of the campaign rally, Prof. AbdulRasheed Nasir, the Team Lead of Smile Train Partners, UITH told newsmen that the rally was to sensitize people on the congenital deformity.

He stated that Smile Train has made provision of free surgical intervention for the repair of cleft lips and cleft palate for children.

“The foundation is ready to admit and repair as many cases of cleft lips condition as we can get.

“The present number of patient is below the expected required number. We urge to mothers and caregivers to bring their children for intervention,” he said.

According to him, people have false beliefs that clefts are caused by demons or witchcraft, and that some of these children were abandoned to die.

He explained that people should not hide children with such condition, adding that everything that has to do with surgery, care and transportation of the patient is free.

Also speaking, Mrs Victoria Ogundipe, the Senior Programme Manager, West Africa, Smile Train stated that

She described Smile Train as the world’s largest cleft-focused organization, with a sustainable and local model of supporting surgery and other forms of essential care.

According to her, the organization is partnering with UITH to ensure every child with the condition receives care.

She lamented that some children don’t live to see their first birthday, due to the stigma and neglect they face, adding that the congenital condition can be corrected surgically free of charge.

Ogundipe appeal to mothers and care givers to bring their children with these conditions for free repairs.

Dr Adeyemi Moshood, an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon at UITH explained that the rally is to sensitize people on facial congenital problem, adding that people have started coming out to seek help as a result of the rally.

He added that one in every 1,700 live births come down with the condition, and that people should endeavour to bring thier children to the teaching hospital.

The Smile Train Foundation in collaboration with the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) on Tuesday sensitized people across the Ilorin metropolis to avail them on the free surgical interventions for people with Cleft lips and palate.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the sensitization on free cleft lips surgeries is part of the activities organised to mark the 2023 Cleft Lip and Palate Awareness Week.

The theme of the Week is entitled: “Changing the World, One Smile at A Time”

Speaking at the sidelines of the sensitization walks, Dr AbdulRasheed Nasir, the Team Lead of Smile Train Partners explained that the foundation is an international children’s charity with a sustainable approach to a single, solvable problem: cleft lip and palate.

According to him, millions of children in developing countries, including Nigeria, with untreated clefts live in isolation, but more important, have difficulty eating, breathing and speaking.

Nasir observed that about 1.5 million children have benefitted from the Smile Train foundation free surgical interventions.

He explained that Cleft lip and cleft palate are birth defects, which happen when a baby’s lip or mouth doesn’t form completely during pregnancy.

According to him, Cleft lip is an opening in a baby’s upper lip, while Cleft palate is an opening in the roof of a baby’s mouth.

He stated that there is no known cause of the conditions, however adding that they may be caused by a combination of factors, including genes and environmental factors, smoking, drinking alcohol and diabetes, anti-seizure medicines among others.

The expert noted that one in every 700 birth will have the condition, while urging people not to hide their children with the condition.

He asserts that the condition can be corrected and people can live a happy normal life.

Nasir stated that the surgical intervention is offered at UITH free of expenses, while stating that over 200 people have so far benefitted.

“People should not hide their children or throw them away because of cleft palate, they should bring them to the hospital where they can be treated,” he said.

Smile train commences free repair of cleft-lips for Kwara children

Kwara: Smile Train, UITH offer free surgical interventions for people with cleft-lips