Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH) in partnership with Smile Train has officially kicked off a landmark cleft awareness and destigmatization campaign. The initiative, aimed at tackling the stigma surrounding cleft lip and palate abnormalities, was launched with a vibrant outreach event at Mile 3 Market Diobu, Port Harcourt.
According to Dr. Aria Oti Nimi, Head of the Multidisciplinary Cleft Team at RSUTH, the partnership with Smile Train has enabled the hospital to provide *100% FREE cleft surgeries* for patients — a game-changer for countless families. “Our team has done exceptional work in the past year,” she said, urging communities to support the cause.
Chief Medical Director (CMD) of RSUTH, Prof. Chizindu Alikor, hailed the program as “a good one” driven by the hospital’s dedicated multidisciplinary team led by Dr. Aria Oti. He extended gratitude to Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara for fostering an environment conducive to impactful partnerships, and to Smile Train’s Africa regional president, Mrs. Nkiruka Obi, for her unwavering support.
Since the RSUTH-Smile Train collaboration began, multiple surgeries have been successfully performed, restoring smiles to children and hope to families. Two grateful parents even lauded Dr. Aria for her compassion and encouragement throughout their journey.
Deputy Chief Medical Director RSUTH Dr. Simon Uriah stressed the importance of patient-centered care, emphasizing that this partnership will identify and support more children with cleft abnormalities, giving them a chance at a normal life.
The campaign runs across Rivers State communities, spreading awareness and urging early intervention for cleft conditions.
Kindly visit RSUTH or call +234 807 159 2632 / +234 807 159 2633 for more info.
#RSUTH#CleftAwareness#EndStigma#HealthcareForAll
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