A Consultant Plastic Surgeon at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, RSUTH, Dr. Otto Nimi Aria, has called on Nigerians to end the stigmatization of children born with cleft lip and palate, describing the condition as a correctable deformity rather than an abnormality.
Cleft lip and palate are congenital conditions that occur when a baby’s face or mouth does not fully form during early pregnancy, often affecting the child’s facial appearance, feeding, and speech.
Speaking during the Cleft Awareness Flag-Off Campaign in Monday, organized by RSUTH in collaboration with Smile Train Global, Dr.Aria emphasized that children born with the conditions are normal children who simply require medical intervention.
According to her, the correction of cleft lip and palate goes beyond surgery and involves a multidisciplinary team of specialists, including pediatricians, ear, nose and throat, ENT surgeons, anaesthetists, speech therapists, and plastic surgeons.
Dr. Aria who heads the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Unit and the Cleft and Craniofacial Surgery Team at RSUTH, stated that the goal of treatment is not only to correct the physical defect but also to ensure that affected children can “eat properly, speak clearly, and live like every other child.”
She noted that while cleft lip mainly affects a child’s physical appearance, cleft palate poses greater challenges, as food and liquid may escape through the nose during feeding, and speech may be unclear, making it difficult for others to understand the child.
She assured parents that RSUTH remains fully committed to the care and management of children born with cleft lip and cleft palate.
Also speaking, the Chief Medical Director of RSUTH, Professor Chizindu Alikor, re-echoed the call to end discrimination against children with the condition.
Professor Alikor urged parents to bring affected children to the hospital, where corrective surgeries are carried out free of charge.
The CMD noted that the partnership with Smile Tain Global was aimed at identifying and providing free corrective surgeries for children with cleft lip and palate, describing the initiative as impactful.
He expressed gratitude to Governor Siminalayi Fubara for his sustained support toward improving healthcare delivery in Rivers State.
On her part, Mrs. Chisom Eze, a parent whose child was treated for cleft palate at RSUTH, encouraged other parents to seek medical help, stressing that the condition is treatable.
She acknowledged that the process may be challenging but expressed satisfaction with the outcome, saying parents would ultimately be grateful they sought treatment.
Health experts call for end to stigmatization of children with cleft lip, palate
