By: Admin
LOKOJA, North-Central, Nigeria – A Non-governmental Organization, Good Smile Africa Advocacy Initiative, has put smiles on the faces of about 30 Cleft lip and Palate patients through its free medical surgery in Kogi state.
Executive Director of the group, Dr. Osodin, Timothy Eromose, disclosed this while fielding questions from newsmen on the impact of the group’s humanitarian services at the venue of the free medical care on Friday, September 22.
The NGO, in partnership with the Kogi State Government is currently free medical services at the Specialist Hospital, Obangede in lpCentral Senatorial District of Kogi state.
Dr. Eromose said the entire programme is aimed at putting smile on the cleft lip and palate patients along with their parents as well as ensuring that the less privileged in the society have access to medical care.
He also said that the programme is targeted at helping to minimize the sociocultural inequalities that people with cleft lip and palate diseases go through because of the misconception that their condition is of evil.
According to him, “Cleft lip and palate patients are individuals born with one-facial deformities in the form of gap opening or shift between lip that could not extend to the roof of the mouth called palate.
“Its associated causes have been attributed to poor nutrition of mother including prenatal vitamins and folic acid deficiencies, high in-take of alcohol and drugs during pregnancy”
The Executive Director expressed delight that surgical treatment of these patients have drastically improved their lives enabling them to eat, breath, speak and ultimately thrive.
He therefore, asked for partnership and collaboration with his organisation by well-meaning individuals, corporate organizations and government in the prevention, treatment and care of cleft lip persons in order to bring good smiles to them and their parents free of charge.