By Prince J Musa in Kenema
A team of doctors from Ghana and the Medical Superintendent of Government hospital in Kenema, Dr. Ibrahim Kapuwa have embarked on an extensive and free cleft palate surgery exercise targeting affected children from different parts of the country. An American health organization Smile Train funded the programme which commenced in Kenema over the weekend.
Dr. Kapuwa told Politico that the cleft surgery initiative was prompted by one he did which attracted the attention of Ministry of Health and Sanitation officials and other health partners such as Smile Train in the USA.
He said children born with cleft conditions are on the increase in the country and as health practitioners, they were concerned about the situation. The doctor said his operation on a child affected by the condition attracted international attention that led to Smile Train sponsoring his trip to Ghana for more training on cleft palate surgery.
Dr. Kapuwa said patients have come from places such as Port Loko, Pujehun, and Mile 91 and that they have received over seventy of them. ”For the first day, we have done eight surgeries on children with cleft palate and it will be done in stages’’, he pointed out.
He said their target is to conduct between 10-12 surgeries per day during the weeklong exercise. Dr. Kapuwa stated that it is a specialized form of training with very expensive equipment involved and spoke about Smile Train and the Ministry of Health and Sanitation having purchased more of the equipment for such an operation, that will soon arrive in the country.
He spoke of plans to establish a Foundation in Sierra Leone similar to one in Ghana, that will be owned and supported by the citizenry, and which will conduct free cleft palate surgeries.
Dr. Kapuwa revealed that this might be the highest number of cleft operations to be done in this country, though over the year’s Mercy Ships undertook similar campaigns. He also disclosed about the state of a child that Mercy Ship operated on and who is to be treated again by his team during this present programme.
He called on all to come on board to support the medical team which he said would embark on a similar venture in the future for those who might not be able to benefit from this one. He also spoke of efforts to train local staff on cleft palate operation.
A mother from Pujehun Mamusu Tarawally whose child underwent a successful operation used the opportunity to appeal to mothers of kids with similar
health conditions to travel to Kenema so they can be treated. She recalled the revulsion she faced in her community when she gave birth to the baby, with some people telling her to throw her away or that she stopped breastfeeding her so the baby could starve to death. They had told her the baby was a demon.
Copyright © Politico Online (21/07/21)
