The Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah, has indicated that cleft palate, a medical condition among children, is treatable and not a curse.
“We have the needed expertise to treat it and what we need is early detection and early referral systems so that no child is left in the shadows, especially children in hard-to-reach communities”, she stressed.
She said the vision of the ministry was to ensure that every child born with a cleft lip, regardless of their location, receives complete and high-quality care.
Conference
Dr Ayensu-Danquah made the remarks while addressing the second annual conference of the Ghana Association for Cleft Lip and Palate (GHACLIP) in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.
Cleft lip and cleft palate are separations in the upper lip and mouth that occur while a fetus develops in the uterus. Treating cleft lip and palate involves surgery and may include speech therapy and dental work.
It was on the theme: “Achieving excellence in comprehensive cleft care in Ghana through effective collaboration and partnership”.
“We want a Ghana where every child born with cleft is treated and grows to accomplish his or her aspirations with no barrier to their potential other than their own ambitions” she pointed out.
Data
She underscored the need for a robust national cleft data and registry to serve as a guide in the provision of the needed care to children born with cleft, saying “we cannot manage what we do not measure”.
“We need to know where children with cleft are born, how they are being followed up and monitored, as well as what the gaps in the systems are to help in the provision of the required care and support”, she stated.
Dr Ayensu-Danquah, who is also the Member of Parliament for Essikado Ketan, called for the decentralisation of expertise in cleft treatment, coupled with a move beyond the mission model where cleft care was only available during certain weeks or months of the year.
Gratitude
The President of Pan African Association of Cleft Lip and Palate (PAACLIP), Professor Adeola A. Olusanya, expressed gratitude to GHACLIP for their dedication and commitment to cleft care. Emphasising that GHACLIP stands as a beacon of hope and excellence on the continent.
She indicated that the journey of comprehensive cleft health care was complex, coupled with challenges related to resources, infrastructure and geographical access and further also touted GHACLIP’s capacity building; training the next generation of surgeons, nurses, and speech therapists, among others.
The Interim President, GHACLIP, Dr Solomon Obiri Yeboah, said as cleft professionals, they strive to provide the highest standard of care to children born with cleft lip and palate in their respective hospitals and centres.
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