The 28th programme organized by Cleft & facial deformity foundation (CFDF), Nigeria, in conjunction with TY Danjuma Foundation, is currently taking place at the Isolated centre, Federal Medical Centre, Keffi.
Seidu Adebayo Bello, the executive director, cleft and facial deformity foundation, Abuja and a consultant, Maxillofacial Surgeon, said the foundation is a non profit organization saddled with the responsibility of creating awareness and carrying out an outreach programme in a rural areas.
Seidu, further disclosed that this begins with the identification of a hospital with optimum facility, followed by effective awareness campaign, then a pre- surgical meeting with the hospital management, Personnel, equipment and materials were mobilised to the site while surgery usually lasted one week.
According to the CEO of Cleft and facial deformity foundation, most patients with cleft and facial deformities do not seek timely help for various reasons, ranging from lack of money, knowledge as well lack of proper awareness.
He said CFDF, has been providing free medical assistance for 18 years to indigent patients from across the country who cannot afford to pay their medical bills and has been collaborating with different organizations for financial assistance, calling for support to enable them succeed
While taking journalists round the facilities at the hospital, the coordinator of the program who is the staff of FMC, said the facilities are available to accommodate the surgery that is billed to commence their Sunday and will last for one week.
According to him, patients came from across the state including those from far away Benin and other parts of the country.
He opened that all the patients would be attended to by medical personnels, calling on them to cooperate with them for the successful surgeries just as he commended TY Danjuma and CFDF for coming to the aid of the less privileged in the society by taking the responsibility of their mental bills, urging them to sustain the tempo
