According to news gathered by the Voice of Nigeria, the Smile Train Foundation, in collaboration with the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), is offering free surgical repairs for children in Kwara who are affected by cleft lips and cleft palates.

Speaking at a rally in Ilorin, Professor AbdulRasheed Nasir, the Team Lead of Smile Train Partners at UITH, explained that the campaign aims to raise awareness about this congenital deformity. He emphasised that Smile Train has made provisions for the free surgical correction of cleft lips and cleft palates in 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 mothers and caregivers to bring their children for intervention,” he said.

According to him, people have false beliefs that children with 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 the surgery, care and transportation of the patient would be free.

Also speaking, Mrs Victoria Ogundipe, the Senior Programme Manager, West Africa, Smile Train stated that the congenital condition could be corrected surgically.

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

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

She said stigma and neglect has led to some children with such challenges not living to see their first birthdays.

Ogundipe appealed 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 was to sensitise people on facial congenital problem.

He said that people had started coming out to seek help as a result of the rally.

Moshood added that, “One in every 1,700 live births come down with the condition, and that people should endeavour to bring their children for the surgry.”