By Felicia Imohimi
Abuja – National Hospital Abuja on Wednesday inaugurated its Maxillofacial Operation Theatre specifically meant to carry out cleft, facial and other oral related surgeries as part of activities to commemorate Cleft Palate Week.
The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital, Dr Jafaru Momoh, said the theatre would assist the hospital to effectively carry out the free cleft surgeries it intended to do in collaboration with Smile Train International.
Cleft lip and cleft palate, also known as orofacial cleft, is a group of conditions that include cleft lip (CL), cleft palate (CP), and both together (CLP).
A cleft lip is an opening in the upper lip that may extend into the nose. The opening may be on one side, both sides, or in the middle.
Momoh emphasised that the Cleft Week being commemorated by the hospital was first of its kind since its existence, describing it as apt.
He commended Smile Train International, an NGO, “for its support to surgical operations on 100 cleft patients between now and end of December.”
He, however, pleaded for more funding to enable the hospital to reach cleft patients in rural areas.
Victoria Awuzie, Programme Assistant, West Africa of the organisation, assured the hospital and the Federal Government of support to ensure that more children with such congenital deformity were reached.
Awuzie emphasised that the organisation would partner with individuals or organisations ready to conduct cleft surgeries.