A Nigerian medical team has arrived in Sierra Leone, a neighboring West African country, to conduct free cleft palate operations on infants suffering from the ailment.
A cleft palate is a hole or split in the roof of the mouth caused by tissue that does not fuse together during development in the womb.
According to Sierraloaded, the Kenema Government Hospital in Sierra Leone, in collaboration with Nigerian specialists, began free cleft palate surgery on youngsters suffering from the ailment on Monday.
The service will help residents of Kabala, Port Loko in the Kafu Bullon chiefdom, and other regions of the nation, including neighboring Guinea and Liberia.
Dr Ibrahim Mark Kapuwa, Medical Superintendent of Kenema Government Hospital, stated in his presentation to patients and other community members that this is the third time the hospital has provided free cleft palate surgery.
According to Kapuwa, most children who have the ailment have faced discrimination in their communities since it is associated with witchcraft.
“We want people to understand that cleft is not witchcraft or violating societal tradition, but rather an aberrant immune system function,” he added.
The doctor thanked the Nigerian medical team for sympathizing with the children of Sierra Leone and stated that the team will not only perform procedures but will also assist train medical workers in cleft surgery. He stated that even after they leave the nation, the procedure will be performed at no cost by Sierra Leonean medical officials.
He claimed that the Kenema district acts as a focal point for patients from Kailahun, Kono, Bo, and Pujehun, and that therapy will help transform people’s perceptions about children with cleft palates.
Dr. Akinkubo Olugebemi Benedict, Consultant Cleft Surgeon, expressed gratitude to the host team for the warm welcome, noting that their actions are a service that any medical practitioner can do in helping mankind.
He stated that seeing youngsters with cleft palates does not make medical professionals or patients happy, and that they wish to bring smiles to their cheeks. He stated that extra training would be offered for the health professionals in Kenema so that they may continue to do surgery even when they are not present.
