Smile Train partners with Nyeri County to give surgical facilities a facelift

The global cleft charity Smile Train has today unveiled the quality of newly upgraded surgical facilities at the Nyeri County Referral Hospital, in efforts to enhance the safety and of pediatric surgeries in Nyeri County.

The upgraded facilities include plastic and maxillofacial surgical theatre, two recovery wards, and a children’s play area which offer a more relaxed recovery atmosphere.

Nyeri County Referral Hospital provides free cleft lip and palate surgeries throughout the year.

Speaking during the unveiling, Smile Train Program Director East Africa Jane Ngige-Muturi noted that children born with cleft lip and palate require surgery, and their recovery spaces needed to give a feeling of comfort and safety to the children.

“Smile Train invests in the holistic care of the patient and the capacity of the healthcare professionals. With the upgraded surgical theatre, the surgeons, anesthetists, and nurses are better placed to offer global standards of cleft surgery within the community,” she said.

She added that “Similarly, the hospital is an unfamiliar environment to children which can be unsettling, and so to give a more relaxed environment for recovery, we have upgraded two wards and created a play area.”

Smile Train Program Director East Africa further said that the investment in the facelift aimed at elevating the quality of treatment offered at the hospital.

The Executive Committee Member of Health, County of Nyeri, Dr. Rachel Kamau expressed commitment towards enhancing the quality of care within the county.

“As we strive towards achieving Universal Health Coverage, our partnership with Smile Train ensures that access to quality cleft treatment is possible at no cost to the patient. Nyeri County Referral hospital is equipped to handle cleft treatment, as well as other surgery needs, and our healthcare professionals are well trained,” Dr. Kamau said.

Cleft is a facial difference in which the lip and/or palate failed to fuse at birth. Children with cleft experience difficulty eating, breathing, or even speaking.

If left untreated, some children die while those who grow up are often neglected and isolated. Once treated, the child can go on to live a normal and productive life.