By Abel Leonard/ Lafia
Cleft lip and cleft palate are birth defects that occur when a baby’s lip or mouth do not form properly during pregnancy. Together, these birth defects commonly are called “orofacial clefts.
The management of Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital in collaboration with smile train Africa and Good Smile are giving hope to cleft lip it palate patient within and outside state as they commence free treatment in the hospital today.
Speaking exclusively with daybreak news correspondent in Lafia, Consultant Maxillofacial Surgeon from University of Abuja Teaching Hospital Timothy Osodin who is also the head of the team of doctors said smile train is about putting smile on the faces of children who are born with defective cleft palate.
He also said, often times parents hide this children from relatives and friends for fear of stigmatization, hence they are here in Lafia to treat or repair and bring the cleft lips together.
Dr. Timothy however reiterated the effort of the management of Dalhatu Araf Specialist hospital to pave way for such a program to be accessible in Lafia at this particular time, saying the management have supported them in all aspect and is done for free.” more than 30 people between the few days they started the programme have benefited and their children treated for free, adding that majority and Nasarawa indegens” he stated.
Two beneficiaries who traveled all the way from Kogi and Delta state for the treatment of their children spoke with our reporter inside the ward after the successful operation of their children said the operation was a miracle and they have reasons to thank God.
