Ilorin (Nigeria): The Smile Train Initiative, in partnership with the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), has successfully provided free cleft lip surgeries to 250 patients in Kwara over 18 years.
The collaboration has continued to offer high-quality, comprehensive treatment for children born with cleft lip and palate conditions across the state.
Prof. AbdulRasheed Nasir, Team Lead of the Smile Train-UITH partnership, disclosed this during the 2025 Cleft Awareness Day, held on Wednesday at Oke-Oyi in Ilorin East Local Government Area.
He explained that the community rally aimed to raise awareness about cleft deformities and encouraged families to seek timely medical support for affected children across rural and urban areas.
According to Nasir, Smile Train has consistently offered free surgical repairs of cleft lip and palate, ensuring access to care for underserved children and eliminating financial barriers for affected families.
“The foundation is ready to admit and repair as many cleft lip cases as we can identify,” Nasir said, encouraging referrals and increased community participation in outreach efforts.
He noted that the initiative had moved from focusing solely on surgical quantity to prioritising quality outcomes and overall comprehensive cleft care for patients and their families.
“The organisation monitors patient care closely, reviewing results and gathering feedback to ensure continuous quality improvement across all phases of cleft treatment,” the team lead added.
Nasir said Smile Train also provided psychological support to help address emotional and social challenges faced by cleft patients and their families during and after treatment.
He added that the programme promoted multidisciplinary care, involving paediatricians, dentists, speech therapists, and nutritionists, to deliver a holistic approach tailored to each patient’s specific needs.
He emphasised that stakeholders held regular meetings to review outcomes, evaluate practices, and enhance care delivery through data-driven feedback and collaborative learning sessions among medical teams.
Nasir explained that Smile Train was committed to expanding its patient outreach and increasing access, especially in remote communities, through ongoing awareness and health education campaigns.
He added that healthcare providers under the programme continued to receive training in advanced cleft repair techniques to improve surgical outcomes and patient satisfaction further.
“By prioritising quality and comprehensive support, Smile Train aims to enhance the quality of life for every child born with a cleft lip or palate,” Nasir said.
In appreciation, the Baale of Oke-Oyi, Alhaji Saliu Abdulkadir-Ayandeji, commended the initiative, describing it as a life-saving intervention that had brought hope to many families.
He expressed concern over emerging diseases that cause hardship, but encouraged healthcare workers to continue their humanitarian service and uphold compassion in their daily work.
The Baale pledged full support from the community to ensure the success and sustainability of cleft treatment and awareness efforts across all parts of Kwara State.
