By Paul Efiong As part of its contributions to Nigeria and humanity in general, Cleft and Facial Deformity Foundation says it has successfully carried out operations on over 600 persons with different multiple, complex craniofacial operations in five years of its existence.
The Medical Director/ Founder and senior consultant surgeon, Cleft and Facial Deformity Foundation initially known as Cleft Care Foundation, Dr. Saidu Bello who disclosed this to our reporter at the weekend in Abuja, also appealed to well meaning and spirited Nigerians for assistance in order for his foundation to reach out to most distance patients in some parts of the country.
According to him, “government assistance should not be solicited in everything as they have more projects to execute and implement” adding, I am one among persons that will not wait on the government for everything in this country why because government is too busy trying to fix major structure such as, the power sector, policy formulation and implementation and so on. My take is that those in philanthropic endeavours and project like ours should be supported by the generality of well meaning Nigerian s”.
“We want Nigerians with philanthropic disposition to come to our aids to enable us reach out to the less privileged individuals particularly those in the grass root areas because our objective is to render free medical services to such individuals no matter where they are found’.
“The situation is pathetic because most people suffering from these deformities here are the less privileged ones and some have been abandon by their family members probably because of some traditional beliefs’.
He, however pointed out that though government should not be asked to engage in everything, it becomes very necessary for government to create more facial centres in the country as most states in the federation cannot at present boast of one.
“Let the federal and the states government begin to look inward to ensuring that at lest all the 6-geo political zones get at lest one craniofacial centre, this they may do either in conjunction with general hospital or with some existing centres.
‘There is an urgent need for this because research has shown that greater percentage of persons affected during accidents is usually in the face, there must also be regular training and retraining for teachers at those centres.
Dr. Bello also mentioned some facial deformities operation recently handled by his foundation though very complex and complicated:
“We had operated some patients with craniofacial problems, we also operated on patients with cleft as well as those with very complex face tumour or lock of jaw, that initially could not open their mouth but did so after the operations’.
On whether Nigeria has an up-to-date facilities through which such sensitive operation could be carried out, he answered affirmatively, pointing out that government support in such important areas must be a welcome development.
The Medical director who used the opportunity to thank TY Danjuma foundation for workable synergy between them, said ‘such had led to projects execution in Taraba state adding: many patients in the state benefited greatly from our philanthropic gesture, where a 16-year old student in primary school was among those we successfully operated though with a very stretch multi-facial deformity.
