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ENUGU, 11th November, 2008: A partnership agreement was secured between the SmileTrain , a US-based charity organization committed to Cleft Care in developing countries, and the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital. This agreement was signed by Delois H. Greenwood, Vice President of TheSmileTrain, and Dr. Okechukwu Onumaegbu, Lecturer in Surgery/Consultant Plastic Surgeon of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital. The Partnership agreement will enable 50 additional Cleft surgeries to be carried out on cleft patients at no cost to the patient. The cost of the surgeries is borne by the SmileTrain with additional opportunity provided for training of the care givers to improve the quality of care. It is expected that the patient turnover will increase thus enhancing the skills of the care givers (doctors, nurses, and health workers) while providing more opportunities for medical students of the University of Nigeria, to witness and appreciate the details of the cleft disorders and treatment modalities. Clefts are developmental anomalies that affect the lip, palate, and sometimes the face, leaving a defect that is unsightly in the case of the lip and affects feeding and phonation in the case of the palate. A combination of the two is not uncommon. Most patients are unaware that the condition is surgically correctable. These patients belong to the poor socio-economic class, and often cannot afford the fees. While funding is provided by the SmileTrain , the Cleft Management Team of the University of Nigera Teaching Hospital caries out the actual care which include but is not restricted to surgical correction. This team is made up of professionals in areas of plastic surgery, oral maxillofacial surgery, ENT surgery, Dental Surgery, Paediatrics, and Anaesthesia. The Programme Manager, Dr Nkeiruka Folaranmi, a lecturer in Child Dental Health, and Consultant Orthodontist, may be contacted for more information. |
