BY SUNNY A. DAVID

The wife of the Anambra State Governor, Mrs. Nonye Soludo, has encouraged parents and families with children suffering from cleft deformities to take advantage of the free treatment available in the State.

The Governor’s wife who made the call in Awka has partnered with Smile Train to provide free surgeries for children with cleft lips and palates.

The treatment is ongoing, and Mrs. Soludo urges everyone to bring their children or refer anyone who needs the treatment to the nearest public health facility or call 09030055335 or 08133979363 for quick response.

She said that for the fact that cleft deformities can be treated, no child in Anambra should be left to suffer from them or from the stigma that comes with such problems.

Mrs. Soludo explained that the partnership with Smile Train to treat anyone with cleft deformity in the State for free is in the best interest of those with cleft problems, with the target to bring the number of such deformities in the State to zero.

She urged parents and families who have children with cleft lips or palates, or anyone that knows a child with such problem to refer them to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Amaku Awka, or to the nearest public health facility where they will receive free surgeries.

She further reassured that the treatments for cleft lips and palates are totally free in Anambra, and encouraged people to take advantage of the ongoing opportunity, even as she commended Smile Train for the partnership, stressing that the state government is always exploring the best options for the wellbeing of all residents.

Mrs. Soludo’s partnership with Smile Train to provide free surgeries for children with cleft deformities in the state began in 2023, with a total of eight children successfully treated so far since the programme kicked off.