Jubilation At UCTH As Cleft Patients Turn Out For Post Surgery Review

By NSAN NDOMA-NEJI, Calabar 

There was jubilation at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, UCTH, on Monday, as patients who had cleft and facial deformity operations two months ago turned out in large numbers for their post-surgery review.

The check-up exercise, which took place at the Accident and Emergency Theatre of the hospital, was conducted by the head of the volunteer surgical team, Dr. Seidu Bello, who appraised the recovery condition of the patients.

Dr. Bello expressed satisfaction with the healing progress recorded so far and commended the patients for honouring the appointment.

"I thank almost 60 percent of the patients who turned out for the check-up exercise," he said.

One of the beneficiaries' mothers, Mrs. Akpabio Essien, whose daughter was operated upon by Dr Seidu's team of surgeons under the TY Danjuma Foundation-sponsored project, expressed deep gratitude to the foundation for the successful operation.

"The surgery has saved my daughter from the menace of always vomiting every food she ate through the nose," Mrs. Essien said.

 In his remarks, Dr. Bello advised people living with cleft and facial deformities to seek proper medical treatment in order to live a normal life, instead of attributing their condition, which could be cancer, to "witchcraft," and appealed to Nigerians not to stigmatize people living with facial deformity.

He advised families of people with facial deformity not to abandon the patients but rather give them the support by taking them to the hospital for medical help.