Dr. Aranmolate R. Ayobami of Grandville Medical and Laser has listed how they help Nigerians who need surgery. “What we are doing is called giving to society, it is also to demonstrate that this surgical procedure can be done in Nigeria by well-trained surgeons. It is for poor patients with severe medical conditions that life is challenging, e.g., children born with cleft palate.
Creating a system that works is their driving force toward healthcare for Nigerians and possibly the whole of Africa. “The whole aim is to create a system that works, and the most interesting thing we have learned while providing service that helps people is understanding the patients and knowing how best to address their needs.”
At Grandville Medical Group, they conduct cleft surgical treatment for free to patients; they also partner with Smile Train to provide this service as part of their contribution to the community. This surgery is done by specialized surgeons, and aftercare is provided for the child after the surgery. Most children are back to their usual behavior about a week after surgery. It usually takes about 3 to 4 weeks for the incision to heal. The incision will leave a pink or red scar. You can expect the scar to feel hard and tight at first. The scar should fade and become softer and flatter in the months and years after surgery.
Cleft lips and cleft palates are terms used to describe openings in a baby’s upper lip or palate, respectively. Cleft lips and cleft palates are the results of improper prenatal development of the tissues that make up the upper lip and the roof of the mouth. Cleft lip and cleft palate conditions can only be treated surgically.
Cleft lips and cleft palates can be best managed through multidisciplinary vis-a-vis a dentist, speech therapist, mother, and nutritionist. The causes of cleft lip and cleft palate are not fully understood, but they are thought to involve a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Some causes of cleft lips and palates can be family history, smoking, drinking, not getting enough nutrients, having diabetes before pregnancy, etc. The lips develop between weeks four and seven of pregnancy. The tissues that make up our lips and mouth come from both sides of our heads and converge in the center of our faces. A cleft lip happens when the tissues that create the lips don’t come together completely. This causes a space or gap to form between the two sides of the top lip. From a slight depression to a big gap that extends to the nose, the cleft can vary greatly. This might happen with the palate or the gums (the roof of the mouth).
“Some of the ways to prevent cleft lips and palates are folic acid, which can help protect the unborn child from birth problems including neural tube defects and cleft lip and palate if the mother takes it before becoming pregnant and throughout the first trimester; getting to a healthy weight before pregnancy, get early and regular prenatal care, etc.”, he concludes.
