Dr. Otto Nimi Aria, a consultant plastic surgeon at Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH), has called for an end to the stigmatization of children born with cleft lip and palate. He emphasized that this condition is a correctable deformity, not an abnormality, and that affected children are normal but require medical intervention. Cleft lip and palate are congenital defects that arise when a baby’s facial structures do not fully form during early pregnancy, impacting appearance, feeding and speech.
Treatment involves a multidisciplinary team—pediatricians, ear‑nose‑throat surgeons, anesthetists, speech therapists and plastic surgeons—working together to repair the physical defect and enable children to eat, speak clearly and lead lives like any 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 primarily affects appearance, cleft palate presents greater challenges, especially with feeding and speech.
The hospital’s Chief Medical Director, Professor Chizindu Alikor, echoed the call to eliminate discrimination and urged parents to bring affected children to RSUTH for free corrective surgeries. RSUTH has partnered with Smile Train Global to identify and treat children with cleft lip and palate, and Professor Alikor thanked Governor Siminalayi Fubara for his support in improving healthcare delivery in Rivers State.
Mrs. Chisom Eze, a parent whose child received cleft palate treatment at RSUTH, encouraged other parents to seek medical help, stressing that the condition is treatable. Although the process can be challenging, she expressed satisfaction with the outcome and confidence that parents will be grateful for pursuing treatment. With the support of organizations like Smile Train Global and the dedication of professionals such as Dr. Aria, children born with cleft lip and palate have hope for the care they need and the chance to lead normal, healthy lives.
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