The Chief Medical Director, Federal Medical Centre Umuahia, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu has called on parents of children and adults with cleft lips and palate challenge to undergo free surgery during the global week for Smile Train awareness cleft and palate surgery which begins today at the Federal Medical Centre Umuahia.
Speaking through a Senior Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon at the Hospital, Dr. Innocent Iwegbu, Prof. Chukwu described Cleft lip and palate as one of the leading birth defects in Third World Countries which is caused by environment, congenital and syndromic factors especially lack of vitamins during pregnancy, pregnant women being exposed to radiation, indiscriminate taking of drugs during the first trimester.
According to the Federal Medical Centre Umuahia Chief Medical Director, the free cleft and palate surgery which is being done by the hospital in collaboration with Smile Train, a New York based Charity Organization, is for children and adults with the medical condition, while the FMC Smile Train Week Awareness Team will also carry out a Patient Outreach within the week at Ndioru market in Ikwuano Local Government Area and Umuosu Market in Nsulu Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area.
He emphasized that the Team will receive Patients tomorrow, ahead of the Surgery, the following day, Wednesday, and maintained that after the Awareness Week, the team will also be available at FMC Umuahia to attend to Patients who came with such challenges.
