Smile Week has begun at the Universitas Academic Hospital where 17 children will receive treatment for facial abnormalities, including cleft lips and palates, as well as severe burns.
Dr. Nikita Blake, the lead doctor in the initiative, expressed that this marks the start of an incredible journey for the children. “We really do walk the path with them, they get the surgeries now, but we monitor them. We need to look at their speech, their feeding and weight gain. So they are lifelong patients,” Blake mentioned.
Bloemfontein Courant spoke to some of the parents whose children were getting surgery. They expressed feelings of happiness and gratitude, as their kids’ lives will forever be changed.
“My son was born with cleft lip and cleft palate and his eardrum is not fully developed. Previously they closed the palate and the lip so today they are going to close the gum. I appreciate it so much because if this didn’t happen I don’t know where I’d receive assistance,” said Lerato Dlamini mother of the nine-year-old.
Another mother, Sara Dijane, also applauded the Smile Foundation and the Health Department. “I am very happy that my child received assistance today and I am grateful to everyone who is a part of this initiative. My son has been struggling with a speech impediment, so I am happy that we will be able to hear him clearly again,” Dijane said.
Blake reiterated the importance of monitoring the children after the surgeries and additionally encouraged parents whose children have similar conditions to come forth and seek assistance. “We have a Smile Clinic every month, so we can identify new patients and follow up with existing ones. And even if we don’t operate on them that year, we do monitor them and see how we can assist. That’s when the rest of the team assists because we are also working with dietitians and speech therapists.”
Clement Matroos
