From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The Good Smile Africa Advocacy Initiative, a Non-governmental Organisation on Friday put smiles to the faces of about 30 Cleft lip and Palate Patients through its free medical surgery in Kogi state.
The free medical care of the NGO which is in partnership with the Kogi state government is currently ongoing at the Specialist Hospital, Obangede in the Central Senatorial District of Kogi state.
The Executive Director of the Organization, Dr. Osodin, Timothy Eromose disclosed this while speaking with Our Correspondent on the impact of his humanitarian services at the venue of the free medical care on Friday.
Dr. Eromose told Our Correspondent that the entire programme is aimed at putting smile on the cleft lip and palate patients along with their parents as well as ensuring that the less privileged in the society have access to medical care.
He also said that the programme is targeted at helping to minimise the sociocultural inequalities that people with cleft lip and palate diseases go through because of the misconception that their condition is of evil.
According to him, “Cleft lip and Palate patients are individuals born with one-facial deformities in the form of gap opening or shift between lip that could not extend to the roof of the mouth called Palate
“Its associated causes have been attributed to poor nutrition of mother including prenatal vitamins and folic acid deficiencies, hig in-take of alcohol and drugs during pregnancy”
The Executive Director expressed delight that surgical treatment of these patients have drastically improved their lives enabling them to eat, breath, speak and ultimately thrive.
He therefore, asked for partnership and collaboration with his organisation by well-meaning individuals, corporate organizations and government in the prevention, treatment and care of Cleft lip persons in order to bring good smiles to them and their parents free of charge.
