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07.03.2012 Health & Fitness

Cleft patients receive free surgical care

07.03.2012 LISTEN
By myjoyonline

Four new cases of cleft lip and palate are reported every week at the Cleft Clinic of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).

The congenital deformity is caused by abnormal facial development before a child's birth.

Apart from the mouth, clefts can also affect other parts of the face, such as the eyes, ears, nose, cheeks, and forehead.

The Ghana Cleft Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organization, collaborated with the KATH Cleft Clinic to provide free surgeries for patients in Kumasi.

Ten cases of cleft lips and palate were treated at the Clinic on Independence Day.

Dr. Solomon Obiri Yeboah at the Cleft Clinic identified some risk factors including malnutrition, mother-to-child infection and genetic as some causes of the defect.

The Cleft Foundation is concerned that children born with the deformity face challenges in the community, including rejection in their families.

The NGO seeks to promote awareness of cleft lip and palate to ensure acceptance of affected children as well as their integration into society.

The Foundation mobilizes resources to support the provision of nutritional, surgical, dental, speech and other services to needy cleft patients.

Dr. Obiri Yeboah entreated parents to seek early medical attention for the cleft defect to be repaired.



Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh/Luv Fm/Ghana

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