17 cleft lip patients healed

17 people with cleft lip and cleft pallet were restored their smiles after undergoing life transforming surgeries performed by a group of American surgeons at Mpilo referral hospital.

For 41 years, a cleft pallet patient Trynos Ncube of Matopo had given up hope of having an upper lip and getting afforded an opportunity to smile just like any other normal human being.

However Trynos and 16 other patients' nightmare came to pass, thanks to a group of American surgeons under the banner Free to Smile Foundation who staged free operations to address the lip deformities at Mpilo Hospital in Bulawayo.

A woman from Mberengwa whose daughter just received treatment from the group of surgeons could not hide her joy after the doctors addressed her daily agony.

Mpilo Central Hospital acting clinical director Dr Xolisani Ndlovu says the hospital doors are open to those who might want to give a helping hand as the institution has not been spared by the economic challenges the country is facing.

Head of Free to Smile Foundation Dr Byron Henry heaped praises on Zimbabwe's hospitality and workmanship.

The seven member team of Free to Smile Foundation which boasts of 15 years of experience in performing cleft lip and cleft pallet surgeries will be back in Zimbabwe in October next year after concluding their one week free surgeries this Friday.