A group, “Cleft and Facial Deformity Foundation’’, has operated on six cleft patients and one normal patient at the IBB Specialist Hospital, Minna.

Dr Seidu Bello, Consultant Maxillofacial Surgeon, said this in an interview with newsmen on Monday at the IBB Specialist Hospital, Minna.

Bello said that the operation, which should have cost each patient between N400,000 and N500,000, was done free of charge for the six children and one Noma patient.

The bill was settled by Maizube Group of Company.

“This operation is a mop up of the 51 patients, who were operated on two months ago.

“Two months ago, we could not operate on these six because they had chest infection.

“We had to refer them to a paediatrician, who treated them before we could embark on the operation.

“This other lady among them; this is the second operation she is having in two months.

“In the past, she had no nose at all, the disease ate up her nose. The only thing there was a hollow but we have been able to work on that,” he said.

He said that cough was dangerous for cleft lip operation and must be treated first before such operation could be embarked upon.

The surgeon, who expressed satisfaction after the successful operation, said that no fewer than 21 of the 51 people operated upon in January, reported back to the hospital for a follow-up.

Bello said that the operation was 100 per cent successful, as there was no relapse from the patients operated.

He said the condition was in four categories; cleft lip is either unilateral or bilateral, tumour, lock jaw and Noma.

“Noma is more critical because this condition eats up the nose and the lip. It is a rapidly-progressive, polymicrobial, often gangrenous infection of the mouth or genitals,’’ he said.

Bello advised parents and the general public, who have children or wards living with maxillofacial condition, not to feel stigmatised but to go for surgery in a hospital.

“The people who have this condition should not seek solution from a native doctor but seek solution from orthodox.

“Health problems are solved in the hospital; people are better informed in the hospital.

“The idea of consulting an oracle to solve a medical problem is absurd, and should not be. It is in the hospital that medical problems are solved.

“People get informed advice from the hospital. People should not always base their problem on spiritual and seek the service of witch-doctor that will complicate issues for them,’’ the medical expert said.

Malam Suleiman Ciroma, a parent of one of the patients, expressed gratitude to the Foundation for the free surgery.

Mr John Tanko, a parent, was grateful to God for using the Foundation to assuage his pain.

Newsmen report that six children had a successful cleft lip surgery, while one Noma patient had her nose reconstructed, as the ailment had eaten up her nose region.