The University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) has commissioned an operating theatre dedicated to children's surgery.
The facility built by the world's largest cleft-focused organization, Smile Train and KidsOR partnership, is equipped with an intensive care unit, recovery room, and playroom, to provide the highest standard of care for children requiring surgery.
The Chief Medical Director(CMD) Professor Henry Ugboma, represented by the Chairman Medical Advisory Committee(CMAC) of the UPTH, Professor Datonye Alasia, who spoke at the commissioning, emphasized that the project, initiated by Smile Train, offers free surgeries for children with cleft lips and palates, noting that the benefits extend to all children requiring surgery at the hospital, providing safe and quality care.
Alasia noted that by the gesture of the International organization, the dedicated kids' operating theatre alleviates competition for theatre space, allowing for the equipment and resources which are tailored to meet the unique needs of children, get to them while ensuring a world-class surgical experience.
He, however, urged families with children with cleft conditions to take advantage of the free surgeries offered by the medical facility, adding that UPTH is a leading center for cleft lip and palate correction.
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Smile Train Senior Program Manager for West Africa, Mrs. Victoria Awazie Ogundigpe said as a marks of its significant milestone in Smile Train's 25-year history, the facility is dedicated to providing free cleft surgery and comprehensive care to children.
She noted that the event underscores the importance of investing in surgical care, particularly for children, to prevent permanent disability or death.
According to Ogundigpe, “Children with clefts often face stigma, unable to attend school or make friends. Yet, treatment is a simple 45-minute surgery with immediate transformation.”
She emphasized that Africa has a high backlog of cleft patients despite having some of the lowest incidence rates worldwide.
She noted that Smile Train has partnered with UPTH since 2009, supporting over 450 free cleft treatments, noting that globally, the organization has treated 2 million children, with 150,000 patients in Africa alone and in Nigeria, it has reached a milestone of 50,000 impact interventions.
She added that the unveiling highlights the need for increased access to safe and timely surgery, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where an estimated 2 billion children lack access to surgical care.
Meanwhile, Dr. Ijeoma Egwebo, Smile Train Coordinator for UPTH, expressed her excitement about the new facility, which will cater to all categories of pediatric age groups and perform various surgeries.
She noted that the dedicated theatre, the first of its kind in the South-South region, is solely dedicated to children's surgeries, addressing the long-standing challenge of limited theatre space for pediatric cases.
She highlighted the previous delays in offering surgeries to children due to competition with adult cases for theatre space.
