By John Kariuki
The Mount Kenya Times Digital
Worth Noting:
- The case of Janet is among many others of parents that The Mount Kenya Times Digital interacted with when they took their children for free Cleft Lip and cleft palate surgery courtesy of Bela Risu Hospital which is located at Park Road, Ngara in Nairobi.
- Lucy Achieng, all the way from Homabay, Ashley Chebet from Sigowet in Kericho county, Vivian Wambui from Murang’a are just but a few of the parents who went home smiling knowing that the cleft lip and palate anomaly had been rectified once and for all.
It’s every parent’s prayer to give birth to a child with a normal smile. But Janet Ayuma, mother of a two year old girl was thrown into confusion when the Unexpected happened. Her bundle of joy, so cute and innocent, was born with a cleft lip and palate. The Mount Kenya Times Digital sought an exclusive interview with her.
“At the maternity ward, people kept thronging to stare at my baby. Her cleft was conspicuous and pronounced. It gave me a lot of stress to a point that I almost suffered depression.”
But thanks to Bela Risu Medical Centre timely intervention, the little child was operated on and she now wears a normal smile.
The case of Janet is among many others of parents that The Mount Kenya Times Digital interacted with when they took their children for free Cleft Lip and cleft palate surgery courtesy of Bela Risu Hospital which is located at Park Road, Ngara in Nairobi.
Lucy Achieng, all the way from Homabay, Ashley Chebet from Sigowet in Kericho county, Vivian Wambui from Murang’a are just but a few of the parents who went home smiling knowing that the cleft lip and palate anomaly had been rectified once and for all.
Dr. Martin Kamau, is the man behind the successful surgeries. Down to earth and taking his delicate task with ease, he humbles himself when he leads us to the theatre room where all the children pass through his skilful hands.
“its very fulfilling for us as Bela Risu to make the intervention to correct Cleft Lip and palate anomaly which is usually congenital. We offer this treatment and aftercare for free. Initially we used to have outreach programs in different localities but we thought of the need to have one physical centre that draws the patients from across Kenya even though we still criss cross The Sub Saharan region,” the down-to-earth medic explains.
Dr. Martin is a specialist Maxillofacial surgeon. He calls upon parents to show up and book for appointments to have their children who are born with cleft treated.
Apart from children, Bela Risu also offers treatment to adults with Cleft Lip and cleft palate anomaly.
Dr. Martin explains:
‘We offer scheduled treatment for convenience purposes. Once a patient reaches us, we book him or her and when we have a batch, we schedule the surgery and after care treatment.
Bela Risu simply means “Beautiful Smile” and from our desk at The Times Online we wish them nothing but success in their noble calling.
God bless you.
John Kamau