Free cleft lip surgery on offer
CHILDREN with cleft lip and palate have been given renewed hope now that specialist international surgery Charity Smile Train has stepped up its campaign in Zambia.
A cleft lip is an opening or split in the upper lip that occurs when developing facial structures in an unborn baby do not close completely. The organisation is urging parents to take advantage of free life-changing surgery and treatment for children with the condition.
This is being done in partnership with the Ministry of Health, Arthur Davison Hospital in Ndola, the University Teaching Hospital Beit CURE Hospital in Lusaka.
US-base Smile Train had been spearheading similar initiatives in Africa since 2002, treating patients through programmes that provided access to important comprehensive cleft care services.
"Bringing hope to families who have felt despair is heart- warming. Seeing a child’s life change after surgery is indescribable,” said Smile
Train Programme Director for Southern Africa Sibusisiwe Shyna Yona.
She said yesterday that children with untreated clefts face physical difficulties in eating, breathing, hearing, and speaking.
Saturday Cleft treatment alleviates
2020 many 25 April, of the difficulties, ultimately enabling them to thrive.
“Comprehensive cleft care includes essential treatments beyond cleft surgery, such as nutrition services, orthodontic and general dental care, speech therapy and emotional support, intended to ensure long-term, successful rehabilitation for Smile Train’s cleft patients,”
Globally, some 200,000 babies are born every year with cleft lips or palates.
Ms Yona said the surgery, which would otherwise be expensive or inaccessible to many Zambian parents, is being done for free at participating public and private hospitals in the country.
“Comprehensive cleft care includes essential treatments beyond cleft surgery, such as nutrition services, orthodontic and general dental care, speech therapy and emotional support, intended to ensure long-term, successful rehabilitation for Smile Train’s cleft patients,” Ms Yona said.