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Natasha Kokai and Charmaine Brown
Screening and surgeries for cleft lip disorders has been a success at Harare Central Hospital with 12 operations being done in the past two days.

The programme is supported by the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Schweppes Zimbabwe and Operation of Hope which is bringing doctors from Canada and the United   States.

Operation of Hope chief executive Ms Jennifer Trubenbach expressed hope that more children would be brought for assistance.

Ms Trubenbach said the programme wass for every child in Zimbabwe with a facial deformity caused by cleft lip and urged mothers in the rural areas to find their way to Harare so that their children could also benefit.

She said they were happy to be coming every year to make a difference in Zimbabwe.

“This is our 28th mission here at Harare Hospital. We have decided to have this annually because the hospital welcomes us and allows us to do the surgeries we want to do. We are here to make a difference; we look at what we can offer to the patients so that their lives become normal.

“As Operation of Hope, we hope that the message will spread to even the rural areas so that we assist everyone. We also realised that some people are facing fuel challenges to come with their children to the hospital which results in an impact on the numbers we are targeting to assist,” said Ms Trubenbach.

Speaking on the side lines of the programme, one of the patients, Kudakwashe Nengomasha (19), who travelled all the way from Honde Valley, said this was a once in lifetime opportunity to get the free surgery and be like any other boy of his age.

“After getting wind about this exercise, I did not think twice. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity that one does not have to miss. I did not even think of the distance, bus fare and any other hindrances,” Nengomasha said.

Gogo Cylita Jinya from Marondera, who brought her two grandchildren born with cleft lip, could not hide her joy as it was a relief for her and the children’s mother who is in South Africa.

“I am happy about this programme because I did not know that cleft lip can be (corrected). We were facing stigma back in Marondera because the problem befell my grandchildren born of the same mother, so it is a relief for all of us,” she said.

The surgeries end on Friday.