The Nigerian Association of Cleft Lip and Palate (NACLP) has called on the Federal Government to include cleft care into the National Health Insurance system, as many of those affected are poor, and cannot afford the cost of surgery and care for their conditions.
NACLP further lamented the dearth of medical professionals, particularly orthodontists, who are committed to providing treatment and care for patients with orofacial deformities.
The Association disclosed that while there are about 90 orthodontists in Nigeria to cater for the increasing number of children and adults with cleft lips and palate, only 15 of them are actually committed to cleft care delivery.
Lafiya360 reports that cleft lip and cleft palate are birth defects that occur when a baby’s lip or mouth do not form properly during pregnancy. Together, these birth defects commonly are called orofacial clefts.
The President of NACLP, Professor Fadekemi Oginni, disclosed this during the Association’s 4th annual scientific conference in Abuja, with the theme: building a holistic approach to cleft lip and palate care in Nigeria from surgery to rehabilitation and beyond.
She said, “Today, we chart a way forward in advancing comprehensive health care delivery for our many patients, and ensure that NACLP continues to wax stronger. We, of necessity, need to begin to move and come to a point where we make the world know that the quality of life after care is what matters most. We have come to the point where we know that it is not all about surgery, but the outcome and patients’ eventual rehabilitation.
“While we have very few orthodontists, and just about 90 orthodontists in the country to cater for this national population, the ratio is even worse for the cleft lip and palate patients. We see just about 15 orthodontists committed to cleft care in Nigeria.
“The Nigerian orthodontist’s post-fellowship training is another step in the right direction, which will foster comprehensive healthcare in Nigeria. The story is not different with speech language pathologists, but we are here to also examine how utilizing the little we have can help us attain the best possible result.
“As a nation, the active engagement of the Speech Language Pathologists Association of Nigeria in the care of our patients, and a focus on cleft palate training, is a seed that is planted, and which will result in the yielding of many fruits soon.
“The role of information technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in the bit we do, and the potential to do more through AI, is another aspect we should be deliberating upon, as this is the direction the world is going.”
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health, Engr. Adebiyi Olufunso, said, “Orofacial clefts are among the most common congenital defects affecting children and second only to clubfoot among all congenital anomalies.
“However, this anomaly has unfortunately remained a major neglected condition in our society associated with social stigmatization and limited social interaction of the affected person leading to medical, psychological, emotional and mental stress.
“This collectively affects the overall growth and development of the individual, causing malnutrition problems, speech and hearing impairments which makes the individuals, caregivers struggle to live a normal and decent life, which could lead to avoidable death.
“Sadly, when this occurs among the poor and rural dwellers, it goes undetected with all the intending consequences that comes with it. This usually puts immense pressure on the parents and caregivers taking much of their time and meager resources to just manage them.
“Let me commend the Nigerian Association of Cleft Lip and Palate for the amazing work towards putting smiles to the children and families that are affected with these anomalies of cleft lips and palates.
“The Federal Ministry of Health appreciate the tremendous work that Smile Train is doing to make sure that needed support is provided for the treatment and rehabilitation of these affected children for the past 15 years in Nigeria by creating visibility around orofacial disorder and increasing the capacity of surgeons and other medical experts to manage them in the country. These efforts have improved the quality and access to care and treatment to more affected persons and in the reduction of the burden of the condition in the country.”
He added, “I want to reinstate the commitment of the Federal Government towards the improvement of a desirable quality care, including orofacial care, the formulation of policies and coordinating programmes that will improve the health care delivery system in Nigeria.
“As the Ministry is currently reviewing the National Oral Health Policy and NOMA Strategic Plan, deliberations from this conference will contribute to guide the finalization of the two (2) documents subsequently.
“We appeal to women who are pregnant to please obey the instructions of their doctors so that they don’t face these challenges. In spite of all that, there could be instances where this kind of thing would still occur, and I would appeal to well-meaning Nigerians who have the resources, to rise up and partner with organizations of this nature, through the Ministry of Health and support them.
“The issue of facial defects reduces the self esteem of these children, and affects them mentally, psychologically, clinically, and emotionally. It also affects their employability. The earlier the defect is corrected the better.”
The Senior Programme Manager of West Africa Smile Train, Victoria Awazie, added, “Many of them are stigmatized, and find it hard to come out in the society. Smile Train has taken it upon herself to make sure that these children get this surgery free by empowering local medical professionals to be able to offer these services to patients. We also collaborate with the Nigerian Association of Cleft Lip and Palate.”