Lorine Emenike
University of Port Harcourt Teaching hospital, UPTH, in collaboration with an international charity organization, Smile Train West Africa has hinted that over 100 cases of patients living with Cleft Lips and palate will be treated before the end of the year, free of charge.
Our correspondent gathered that Cleft Lip and palate, which is an abnormal lip and roof of the mouth would be done from 23rd to 27th September 2019 at UPTH, from 8 am to 2 pm daily.
Chairman, Medical and Advisory Committee, UPTH, Prof. Princewill Stanley said the program started in the UPTH for patients with Cleft Lip since 2008, adding that the hospital has been able to intervene in about 300 hundred cases bringing it to an average of 30 persons per year.
Prof. Stanley said their target is to ensure that no persons are living with Cleft Lip and Palate in the society.
A representative of Smile Train West Africa, Victoria Awazie said they succeeded in carrying out successful surgery on 313 patients in UPTH since 2009, adding that they have gone beyond surgery and have also gone into comprehensive care
Coordinator, Smile Train, UPTH program, Benjamin Kejeh said Cleft Lip and palate is something that could happen to anyone, not as a result of witchcraft as people may think, calling on pregnant mothers to avoid taking herbs or any concoction but always visit health centres for a check-up.
Professor Princewill Stanley also said that the hospital’s dialysis and kidney transplant unit would be completed by June 2020 and by 2021, they are likely to commence their first kidney transplant.
