By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
About 60 per cent of the 39 patients who benefited from the recent free cleft and facial tumour surgeries have returned to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, UCTH, for follow up medical checkup.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Cleft and Facial Deformity Foundation, CFDF, Dr. Seidu Bello, disclosed this on Monday during the two-month post-surgery review at the Accident and Emergency Theatre of the hospital.
The free surgical outreach was carried out by the foundation in partnership with the TY Danjuma Foundation.
Dr. Bello said the foundation had duly notified all 39 patients for the review and was expecting between 40 to 60 percent turnout, describing the current turnout as encouraging.
He explained that the review, which has been a 15-year tradition of the foundation, is aimed at monitoring healing, addressing patients’ concerns and managing complications.
He said, “Since I’m a Nigerian, who is based in the country, I have the chance to see the patient physically, apart from follow-up on phone. There are some things that need to be seen physically.”
Dr. Seidu averred that some patients may require further steps in the reconstructive ladder, such as fabrication of artificial teeth or an obturator to restore functions lost after removal of parts of the jaw or palate.
He added, “When these teeth are not there, these functions are affected. So, if it is possible to replace them, the quality of life will improve.”
He urged Nigerians to seek medical help rather than attributing tumours to witchcraft.
