Experts have emphasized the necessity of creating a School of Dentistry at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH) to tackle the issues surrounding craniofacial disease management in the nation.
These professionals stress the significance of specialized care for individuals with facial deformities, highlighting the need for an institution that can produce more maxillofacial surgeons to effectively handle these conditions.
During the opening ceremony of the ‘team 27’ free cleft and facial deformity surgery program held at UniAbuja Teaching Hospital on Tuesday, Dr. Seidu Bello, the executive director of the Cleft & Facial Deformity Foundation (CFDF), made the following statement:
He declared, “It is urgently necessary to establish a School of Dentistry at the University of Abuja. Currently, this is lacking even though the school and other medical science disciplines are rapidly expanding.”
He further mentioned that establishing the School of Dentistry would not only address the scarcity of maxillofacial surgeons but also strengthen postgraduate training programs, ensuring the presence of a capable workforce to combat craniofacial diseases.
Bello bemoaned the shortage of maxillofacial specialists, stating that “the effective management of facial diseases necessitates a consistent production of maxillofacial surgeons, which is a dentistry specialty that is currently scarce in Nigeria, with less than 200 specialists available nationwide.”
He also asserted, “The current 27th edition has seen a large number of patients with various forms of facial deformities from different states. As of today, 44 patients have registered. We have conducted operations on 13 patients, and surgeries will continue for one more week with the objective of treating 50 patients.”
He added, “It is clear that we cannot attend to everyone, which serves as a reminder that facial deformities are not rare.”
According to Bello, the CFDF, a non-governmental organization dedicated to combating facial deformities in Nigeria, has been leading the way in creating awareness and providing free surgical interventions to underprivileged individuals, benefiting over 5000 people.
He highlighted that one noteworthy achievement is the significant reduction in adult cleft cases in the country.
“During the first 4 programs, adult cleft cases were prevalent, with an average age of 14.2 years. However, most of our cleft patients are now infants, aligning us with the global norm where cleft surgery is primarily focused on children,” he explained.
“While we have made notable progress, the establishment of a School of Dentistry at UATH would greatly enhance our efforts. It would enable us to train a new generation of healthcare professionals and improve access to quality care for those affected by craniofacial diseases,” Bello emphasized.
Commenting on the significance of the program, Prof. Bissallah Ekele, the CMD of UATH, remarked, “The significance lies in the fact that happiness has been brought to the faces of those who were made unhappy due to facial deformities. And to be told that it was done for free, that message is obvious.”
He also mentioned that cases of cleft and facial deformities are prevalent in the facility.
Gima Forje, the CEO of the TY Danjuma foundation and a major sponsor of the program, stated, “We support free medical services in churches in Nigeria so that individuals in impoverished communities can access quality healthcare. To achieve this, we collaborate with qualified and experienced partners. That is why we support organizations like CFDF, to bring services to the needy. Without such outreaches, people with facial deformities would not be able to access healthcare services.”
“Another reason is that the surgeries are quite expensive and complex, and many patients cannot afford the necessary resources.”