The University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) has commissioned a cutting-edge operating theatre dedicated to children’s surgery, courtesy of Smile Train’s KidsOR program.
The specialised theatre, equipped with an intensive care unit, recovery room, and playroom, aims to provide the highest standard of care for children requiring surgery.
The Chief Medical Director (CMD) Professor Henry Ugboma, represented by the Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee(CMAC) of the UPTH, Professor Datonye Alasia, who spoke at the commissioning, emphasised that the project, initiated by Smile Train, offers free surgeries for children with cleft lips and palates, noting that the benefits extend to all children requiring surgery at the hospital, providing safe and quality care.
He said the dedicated kids’ operating theatre alleviates competition for theatre space, allowing for world-class surgical outcomes. The equipment and resources are tailored to meet the unique needs of children, ensuring a world-class surgical experience.
UPTH, a leading centre for cleft lip and palate correction, urges families with children with cleft conditions to take advantage of the free surgeries offered. This development is expected to significantly enhance the quality of healthcare for children in the region.
Also, Smile Train Senior Program Manager for West Africa, Mrs. Victoria Awazie Ogundigpe said as a mark of its significant milestone in Smile Train’s 25-year history, the facility is dedicated to providing free cleft surgery and comprehensive care to children.
She noted that the event underscores the importance of investing in surgical care, particularly for children, to prevent permanent disability or death.
According to Ogundigpe, “Children with clefts often face stigma, unable to attend school or make friends. Yet, treatment is a simple 45-minute surgery with immediate transformation.”
She emphasised that Africa has a high backlog of cleft patients despite having some of the lowest incidence rates worldwide.
She noted that Smile Train has partnered with UPTH since 2009, supporting over 450 free cleft treatments, noting that globally, the organisation has treated 2 million children, with 150,000 patients in Africa alone and in Nigeria, it has reached a milestone of 50,000 impact interventions.
She added that the unveiling highlights the need for increased access to safe and timely surgery, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where an estimated 2 billion children lack access to surgical care.
Dr. Ijeoma Egwebo, Smile Train Coordinator for UPTH, beamed with excitement as she spoke about the new facility, which will provide comprehensive care for all paediatric age groups and perform a wide range of surgeries.
She emphasised that the dedicated theatre, a pioneering achievement in the South-South region, is exclusively designed for children’s surgeries, effectively addressing the long-standing issue of limited theatre space for paediatric cases.
Dr Egwebo also shed light on the previous challenges faced by the hospital, where children’s surgeries were often delayed due to competition with adult cases for theatre space, but expressed her joy that those challenges are now a thing of the past.
UPTH Launches Specialised Theatre For Children’s Surgery is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
