MTN Rwanda announced continued financial support for the free operations of Rwandan children and adults born with cleft lips and cleft palates. MTN committed another $10,000 for this year’s operations only.
Partnering together with Rwanda’s Ministry of Health and Operation Smile South Africa (OSSA) the money will facilitate the operation of over 300 Rwandans born and affected with the vice.
Last year alone MTN Rwanda offer $30,000 (Rwf 18 million) to allow free operations of cleft patients.
MTN Rwanda CEO Khaled Mikkawi while handing over the dummy cheque to officials of Operation Smile, said that the money will facilitate the free operation for over 300 Rwandans born and affected with the vice.
“Last year alone MTN Rwanda offered $30,000 (Rwf18 million) to allow these free operations. This year approximately 200 patients in CHUK will receive the free surgery.
Another 150 surgery in Butaro will also benefit from the sponsorship including training for 174 health care professionals and 26 medical staff,” Mr. Mikkawi said.
“Since we started engaging in this noble cause we have already donated over Rwf30 million in the past four years.
As the market’s leading brand we are also playing an ambassadorial role to make sure other partners join and support the same cause,” he added.
Cleft lip and cleft palate which are scientifically referred to as cheiloschisis and palatoschisis respectively can cause severe variations of a deformity caused by abnormal facial development during the development of a human being.
OSSA officials explained that a cleft is an opening or a gap caused by non-fusion of the body’s natural structures that form before birth.
Approximately 1 in 700 children in the world are born with a cleft lip or a cleft palate. Clefts can also affect other parts of the face, such as the eyes, ears, nose, cheeks, and forehead.
A cleft lip or palate can be successfully treated with surgery, especially so if conducted soon after birth or in early childhood.
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