NGO offers free cleft, facial deformity surgery in Taraba

Cross Section of cleft and facial deformity patients waiting for screening and surgery at Specialist hospital in Jalingo

An Abuja based non-governmental organisation, Cleft and Facial Deformity Foundation (CFDF) in conjunction with TY Danjuma Foundation on Saturday began free surgical operation for people with cleft and facial disorder in Taraba.

Director General of Cleft and Facial Deformity Foundation, Dr. Seidu Bello while addressing nurses during a pre-surgical workshop aimed at training the nurses of Specialist hospital in Jalingo who would assist in managing the patients after the surgery appealed to them to cooperate with the team for effective exercise.

Bello who said the success of any operation depend on the cooperation of the nurses whose primary role is to ensure anaesthetic management of patients after operation appealed to them to support his team for effective surgical operation.

“A lot of people with cleft and facial disorder can’t afford to pay for the surgery. Some privilege ones can afford, but many can’t. So, when I discovered this and as a specialist in the field, I simply assembled a team to help treat such cases.

“I believe that we can’t depend on government for everything. We can provide certain services as individuals because government cannot do everything for us. So, in a way, I am just providing Nigerian solution to Nigeria problem and discouraging over dependence on government and foreign aide,” he said.

He noted that the foundation which has been in operation for the past 5 years has effectively treated over 600 cases in 14 major outreach across the country.

In his remarks, Mr. Emmanuel Ishaku, Assistant Director Finance and Administration at TY Danjuma foundation, the chief sponsor of the surgery programme thanked Dr. Bello and his team for the good work they are doing and urged them to sustain their service to humanity.

He noted that one of the cardinal objective of TY foundation was to ensure free medical services to all Nigerians and pledge their support to such programmes at all times.

Dr. Alex Maiaungwa who represented the Chief Medical Director of Specialist Hospital, Dr. Rimande Joel thanked the team for choosing specialist hospital, saying the free surgery will avail the less privilege in the society the opportunity to access free medical solution to their problems, which he said might have put them through economic and social stress over the years.