Kumasi: The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), the second-largest referral hospital in Ghana, has commissioned a state-of-the-art National Cleft Care Centre, also known as the Smile Cleft Leadership Center, to deliver comprehensive care for patients with cleft lip and palate conditions. The newly commissioned center is the first of its kind in Ghana and one of the largest in Africa, expected to serve as a regional hub for cleft care, offering treatment, training, research, and the capacity to handle many patients annually.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr. Papa Kwasi Baidoo, Chief Executive Officer of KATH, stated that the establishment of the center was made possible through a collaborative partnership involving KATH, the Ministry of Health, Smile Train, and the Cleft Foundation. Ghana records an estimated 700 babies born with cleft lip or palate each year, a serious and potentially life-threatening condition. Dr. Baidoo noted that the new center would significantly increase the hospital's capacity for treatment and surgical training, scaling it up by fivefold and sixfold, respectively.
Prior to the commissioning of the center, KATH performed about 100 cleft surgeries annually, in addition to providing orthodontic care for 20 patients and speech therapy for 25. With the new facility, the number of patients receiving holistic care, including nutritional counselling, psychosocial support, and oral health services, is expected to rise from 145 to 850 annually. Dr. Baidoo reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the center to operate at its fullest potential.
Dr. Peter Donkor, President of the Cleft Foundation, described the facility as both a safe haven for cleft treatment and a research center dedicated to advancing cleft care. He emphasized that every child with a cleft condition deserved free treatment. Madam Susana Schaefer, CEO of Smile Train, noted that the center would help shape a new generation of cleft care providers and offer hope to children and families affected by the condition.
