Smile Train Foundation Partners With Corps Members As Ambassadors On Cleft-lip Eradication

By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal

The Smile Train Foundation has recruited some National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) members to scout for patients with Cleft lips during their cause of service across the 16 Local Government Area of Kwara.

Speaking with newsmen in Yipata, Edu LGA of Kwara, Prof. Abdulrasheed Nasir the Team Lead of Smile Train partner, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), stated that the programme is to ensure the corpers identify children with cleft lip and call the attention of the foundation for proper treatment.

Nasir explained that cleft lip and cleft palate are openings or splits in the upper lip, the roof of the mouth (palate) or both.

“Cleft lips causes deformed mouth, which also cases problem in feeding, speech and aspiration.

“The general implication is that the child cannot do what others can,” he said.

He added that children born with cleft lips are comfronted with challenges and stigma, adding that this leads to unfounded myths and misinformation against innocent children.

Nasir who is a Consultant Paediatrician with UITH, noted that the goal of the organisation is to give every child with a cleft lip the opportunity for a full and healthy life.

He pointed out that the organization has carried out about 1.5 free million surgeries for patients globally.

According to him, patients can get free surgeries and comprehensive treatment, including surgery, dental care, Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) care, speech services, orthodontics, and counselling and support.

The expert submitted that the organisation ensures that everybody are able to smile without hindrance.

Also speaking, Mrs Pauline Adeyeye, the Deputy Director of Nursing, UITH lamented on the stigma associated with cleft lips.

“Some villages tag these children as demons. The parents find it difficult to identify with the babies because of thier condition.They are thrown into rivers or left to die,” she said.

Adeyeye deacribed the condition as congenital abnormality and that it can be surgically corrected for free.

She pointed out that the rationale behind recruitment of the copers as champions of cleft lips, ia that they have opportunity of serving at rural communities, and that this will afford them position to call for action and care.

Miss Faria Folarin, a Corper and one of the Ambassador of the programme expressesd delight to be involved in such humanitarian service.

On her part, Mis Joy Olajide, also a youth corper, and an Ambassador of cleft lip treatment pledged her commitment to the programme, adding that she will ensure others youths are involved too. (NAN)

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