Many Cleft Lip, Palate children 
operated at Digri camp

KARACHI: Cleft and Contracture Foundation (CCF) founded in 2004 has operated upon a large number of poor patients who cannot afford expensive surgery. Headed by Prof. Mohammad Ashraf Ganatra, Prof. of Plastic and Reconstructive, Aesthetic Surgery, Dow University of Health Sciences, it recently held a camp at Digri in Sindh. Other members of his team included Dr. Asad Awan, Dr.Zafar Khawaja, Dr. Almgir Shah, and Dr.Mubashir besides OT technicians.

During three days they registered 297 patients out of which many were operated. There was no major post operative problem seen in these patients and all of them were discharged the next day. They were called after one week for removal of sutures.

Prof. Ashraf Ganatra examining Cleft Lip, Cleft Palate patients at Digri camp

Speaking at a gathering during the camp Prof. Ashraf Ganatra highlighted the importance of the problem and showed the pre operative and post operative pictures of various patients. He told the audience that cleft lip and cleft palate has no relationship with lunar or solar eclipse. He also emphasized that Pediatrician and Family Physicians should refer the cleft lip and cleft palate cases at right time to Plastic Surgeons, within three months for cleft lip and one year for cleft palate. All the expenses of the camp were bore By Smile Train and Cleft & Contracture Care Foundation (CCF)...  

Since February 2008, he has operated 1395 cases. Out of 1395, 449 cases had been operated at different camps held in Rural Sindh. So far Prof. Ganatra and his team had operated at Hyderabad, Nowshero Feroz, Tando Adam Kahn, and Tando Muhammad Khan.

Cleft lip and cleft palate, it may be mentioned here is one of the commonest congenital abnormalities. The incidence in Pakistan is around one in 400 live births. Pakistan is the country with fourth highest number of cleft lip and cleft palate patients. The first three countries are China, India and Indonesia. Twenty five children are born every day and 9000 every year. Two thousand of them get some surgical relief, 7000 got admitted into back log of more then 100,000 thousands un operated patients every year.

In Pakistan most of the children are born to parents who are poor and cannot afford to have proper treatment. This treatment comprise of Plastic surgery procedures, visit to Orthodontist, speech therapist and Psychiatrist. (PR)

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