Zamfara Health Commissioner Appointed As Cleft Child Ambassador

Zamfara Government and two Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Smile Train and March Care Initiative, have begun collaboration to offer free surgery for children with cleft lips and palates in the state.

The free corrective cleft surgery for the poor and vulnerable victims, would be sponsored by the two NGOs,in collaboration with the state State Primary Health Care Board.

The state Commissioner for Health, Aliyu Abubakar, said this on Thursday when he received officials of the NGOs, who paid him an advocacy visit in Gusau.

During the visit the two NGOs appointed the Commissioner as Cleft Child Ambassador.

The commissioner commended the NGOs for selecting the state to benefit from the programme.

He assured that the government would continue to work with development partners in promoting health care delivery in the state.

“The ministry is determined to support the programme as it is in line with the state government’s policy of assisting vulnerable groups in the society.

“The programme coincides with the present administration’s commitment to provide free basic health care services to citizens”, he said.

In her remarks, the Programme Manager of Smile Train, West Africa, Mrs Victoria , said that hundreds of children in Zamfara would benefit from the free cleft surgery.

Awaze said the NGO is working in over 90 countries, offering free surgery to children suffering from cleft palate and cleft lips diseases, to give them a sense of belonging.

According to her, children suffering from the disorder face stigmatisation and other life-living challenges, including early death.

Earlier, the representative of March Care Initiative, Mrs Ayedun Lawal, said the advocacy was to get proper identity of children and adults suffering from cleft palate disease in the state.