Rotary Club, Alliance for Smiles begin free cleft lip, palate surgeries

A medical charity, Alliance for Smiles, has started free corrective surgeries for children with cleft lip and palate.

As of yesterday, 10 out of the 30 children admitted for cleft lip and palate surgeries had successfully undergone the corrective procedure at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (GARH).

The initiative forms part of a two-week mission which started on January 13 to provide free cleft lip and palate surgeries to over 30 underserved children and adults with the conditions in the country.

At the cost of $86,000, Rotary International is funding the surgeries through a grant and supported by donations from Rotary clubs and districts worldwide.

Alliance for Smiles organised the operation in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Accra-West, District 9104, Ghana, and other international partners to provide free cleft lip and palate surgeries at GARH.

The mission brought together a team of 18 medical and non-medical experts from the United States and other countries that is working alongside medical staff from GARH, also known as the Ridge Hospital.

It is to restore the smiles, provide treatment and improve the lives of affected children and families who cannot afford the specialised care they need.

The Mission Director of Alliance for Smiles, Tina Fischlin, emphasised the importance of the surgeries for children born with cleft lip or palate who often experienced stigma, social isolation and health challenges.

“Every child deserves a smile. These surgeries offer them a chance at a normal life, social integration and improved health outcomes,” Ms Fischlin added.

Ms Fischlin said the team was ready to accommodate more patients and urged families to reach out to the hotline set up by the Rotary Club of Accra West for registration.

In addition to the surgeries, she said the mission would train local medical professionals to ensure sustainable care for patients.

The Mission Director of Alliance for Smiles encouraged Ghanaians not to hide or ostracise children born with cleft conditions, adding, “These children deserve a chance at a beautiful smile and a full life. If they are healthy and confident, their families and the society will benefit.”

The Assistant Governor of the Rotary Club of Accra-West, Violet Hanna Osei, said the club was committed to improving access to essential medical services and strengthening healthcare systems.

The collaboration, she said, played a critical role in addressing healthcare inequalities adding that “This mission not only transforms lives but also builds sustainable healthcare solutions by enhancing the skills of local providers,” Rotarian Osei said.

A reconstructive plastic and burns surgeon at GARH, Dr Charles Kwame Asiedu, thanked the donors for their gesture, saying “Seeing parents’ joy after the surgery is unforgettable”.

“The lip needs to be repaired because it becomes a stigma. Cosmetically, with the cleft lip present, parents tend to keep their children indoors, fixing the lip improves their appearance and social life,” he said.

He said although the exact cause of the condition was unknown, genetic and environmental factors including parental history, smoking, alcohol intake and poor antenatal care were possible contributors.

He said although parents struggled with the cost of treatment, some NGOs supported the surgery, transportation, nutrition and speech therapy.

Dr Asiedu urged the government to provide more support for cleft surgeries and expand partnerships to ensure year-round access to these essential services. 

Causes

The Lead Surgeon of Alliance for Smiles, Dr Karl Wustrack, contributing to the discussion, said clefts affecting the lip or palate were primarily caused by genetic factors.

He said although diet and nutrition played a role, they were not the main contributors, adding that it was a very constant genetic problem.

Dr Wustrack reassured parents that although clefts were not preventable through lifestyle changes, they were treatable through surgery.