Smiles train ,a non-profit organisation in collaboration with health professionals in Northwest region of Nigeria hold a stakeholders meeting in Kano to analyze the challenges and prospect to proffer solution to the menace of cleft lips and cleft palate in newborn babies in Nigeria.
The organisation said it is working to bring professionalism in the treatment of cleft lips and cleft palates around the country.
Professor Adetokunbo Adebola, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer Grassroots Smiles Initiative stated this on Wednesday at the Northwest zonal meeting of ‘Smile Train’, health professionals which took place in Kano, identified inaccessibility of cleft patients especially among the rural population as their major concern.
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He added that :”cleft issues are suppose to be given special care and the health workers treating it need special training, however, one of the major challenges we are having is accessing the patients, especially those in the rural areas.
“It is important to note that the overall surgery of cleft patient is free in the country, this is a measure to reduce the problem nationwide.
Speaking about the objective of the meeting Adebola said, “What we’re doing today is to analyze our challenges and the prospect, and proper solution to them.
“Challenges are usually overcome in step wise manner, that’s to say we cannot do that once but with time, and with our limited resources.
“One of the challenges is for the patients to know our services, and come to the hospital rendering such for necessary measures.
“Many are in the rural areas, that we can’t reach them through, that will come and access the free services” Adebola said.
Dr ABUBAKAR MUHAMMAD LAWAL a plastic Surgeon with Ahmad Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, said, he is optimistic that the meeting will pave new ways for addressing the menace of cleft lips in the north.
He added that, the major target is on the children born with the problem, which when given such treatment will be out of the problem and live as normal humans in the society.
He said, “adequate media campaign is needed to reach out to those patients, via traditional rulers, religious leaders and trade men and women from those areas.
Mrs FEYISARA ADEBOLA project coordinator grassroots smiles initiative ARM forces Specialist Hospital Kano said the organization have treated over three thousand patients in the region.
The Specialist then called on the government, Non-governmental organizations to work hand in hand with the professionals to see that the cleft issue becomes a thing of the past.
Smiles train is an international children Charity that support free cleft repair surgery and comprehensive cleft care for children all over world.
Many children around the world are living with untreated clefts,most have difficulties eating, breathing,hearing and speaking.
