Makueni County Government in partnership with BelaRisu Foundation will conduct a two-day reconstructive cleft-lip and palate surgery camp at the Makueni County Referral Hospital (MCRH)
The camp that kicked off today, will see 42 children and adults operated on free of charge by a team of 10 doctors from BelaRisu Foundation led by Dr. Mahabubur Rahman Khan and Dr. Martin Kamau jointly with others from MCRH.
The beneficiaries, drawn from Makueni, Kisumu, Kajiado and Mombasa will have the palate deformities corrected to promote their wellbeing.
“We do not have some of the technical staff and equipment to conduct reconstructive surgeries and that is why we are partnering with BelaRisu Foundation,” said Dr. Andrew Mulwa the County Executive Committee Member (ECM) for Health while addressing the media during the launch at the MCRH on Friday.
Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana lauded the initiative between the County Government and BelaRisu Foundation saying the surgeries will help restore dignity and help them lead normal lives.
“There is a lot of stigma attached to cleft-lip and palate, it is a normal condition like any other disease and people should stop stigmatising those who have it,” the Kibwana.
The governor noted that many people shy away from the reconstructive surgery due to the prohibitive costs and that the initiative was a reprieve to many victims who would not afford the surgery.
“This is a great initiative, if it was to be done in a private hospital many of the parents here could not afford,” said the governor.
Speaking during the same launch, Bangladesh High Commissioner to Kenya Major General MD Jahangir Kabir Talukder said that they supported the initiative in commemoration of the founding Father of the Bengali Nation Bangabandhu Sheik Mugibur Rahman.
Major General Talukder expressed his confidence that his country will not only partner with Makueni County on health-related matters but also in agriculture and business.
This is not the first time the county government is partnering with BelaRisu for the reconstructive surgeries. Last year more than 50 patients were operated on courtesy of the county government, Smile Train Africa and BelaRisu.
By Patrick Nyakundi/Roselyne Kavoo
