Stop hiding children with cleft lip at home, parents told

A section of surgeons, anaesthesia providers and nurses made the call in Dar es Salaam early this week at a workshop aimed at sharing educational experience in order to enhance operating room safety and improve cleft surgical services in the country.

The workshop was part of the Smile Train and safe surgery Lifebox initiative to improve surgery and anaesthesia safety for paediatric patients undergoing cleft surgeries.

Dr Edward Wayi, a plastic surgeon at CCBRT Hospital, said many children with cleft and palate lip deformities are left home with no help as parents fear effects of the surgeries.

He said that in Tanzania, approximately 2,500 children are born with cleft deformities annually and fortunately, most cleft deformities can be fixed with a simple surgery.

“We encourage parents to bring children to hospital as the surgeries are safe and completely bring smiles on children,” he said.

He said since the surgeries are ideally performed within the first 18 months of a child’s life, early identification and intervention is essential for good outcomes.

According to him, a cleft lip affects usually the upper part of the lip where there is a physical split of the lip, while a cleft palate is when there is a split of opening in the roof of the mouth and can affect both males and females.

The expert emphasised the importance of collaborative efforts in ensuring successful surgeries and post- operation care for patients with cleft conditions.

Dr Peter Saria, an anaesthesiologist and trainer at the workshop, said the aim of bringing together the professionals in the workshop was to provide them with non-technical skills and awareness to ensure they speak the same language, have unity, and have the ability to connect when performing surgeries.

“Ensuring there is teamwork, and we believe that collaboration of professionals in the operating room helps improve the outcome both during and after the procedure,” he said.

Dr Athanase Masele, dentist and cleft surgeon at Dodoma Regional Referral Hospital, said the problem of cleft lip is currently big because the services are not provided on a large scale.

“This issue involves stigma and that is why parents hide their children, especially in rural areas. But there is also a rise in awareness as many stakeholders continue to fund surgeries, education and awareness campaigns targeting rural areas,” he said.

Belinda Karimi, Lifebox nurse fellow, said all patients deserve safe surgeries and that it is important for the team in the theatre room to closely collaborate to deliver cleft surgery and care as well as post-operation recovery.

She said the workshop focused on improving teamwork and communication processes during emergency events, as well as routine best practices for surgical safety.