A call to end stigmatization of children born with cleft lip and palate has been made by Dr. Otto Nimi Aria, a Consultant Plastic Surgeon at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH). Dr. Aria emphasized that this condition is a correctable deformity, rather than an abnormality, and children born with it are normal and require medical intervention.
Cleft lip and palate are congenital conditions that occur when a baby’s face or mouth does not fully form during early pregnancy, affecting the child’s facial appearance, feeding, and speech. The correction of these conditions involves a multidisciplinary team of specialists, including pediatricians, ear, nose and throat surgeons, anaesthetists, speech therapists, and plastic surgeons. The goal of treatment is to correct the physical defect and ensure that affected children can eat properly, speak clearly, and live like every other child.
Dr. Aria, who heads the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Unit and the Cleft and Craniofacial Surgery Team at RSUTH, noted that while cleft lip mainly affects a child’s physical appearance, cleft palate poses greater challenges, including difficulties with feeding and speech. She assured parents that RSUTH remains committed to the care and management of children born with cleft lip and cleft palate.
The Chief Medical Director of RSUTH, Professor Chizindu Alikor, also called for an end to discrimination against children with the condition, urging parents to bring affected children to the hospital for free corrective surgeries. The hospital has partnered with Smile Train Global to provide these surgeries, with the aim of identifying and treating children with cleft lip and palate. Professor Alikor expressed gratitude to Governor Siminalayi Fubara for his support in improving healthcare delivery in Rivers State.
A parent, Mrs. Chisom Eze, whose child was treated for cleft palate at RSUTH, encouraged other parents to seek medical help, stressing that the condition is treatable. She acknowledged that the process may be challenging but expressed satisfaction with the outcome, saying parents would ultimately be grateful they sought treatment. With the support of organizations like Smile Train Global and the commitment of medical professionals like Dr. Aria, there is hope for children born with cleft lip and palate to receive the care they need and live normal, healthy lives.
