Specialists at Mulago National Referral Hospital are providing free, comprehensive cleft care—from counselling to multi-stage surgeries—helping restore health and hope for affected children and their families.
Treatment for cleft lip and palate in Uganda begins immediately after birth, with doctors at Mulago National Referral Hospital implementing a comprehensive care approach designed to support both children and their families.
According to Irene Mugisha, Head of Plastic Surgery at the facility, the process starts with counselling and emotional support for parents, many of whom experience shock, anxiety, and stigma upon seeing their newborns.
“We counsel them, we allay their anxieties, and explain that this condition can be repaired,” she says.
Following counselling, families are guided through nutritional rehabilitation, where they learn how to properly feed babies who are unable to breastfeed normally due to the condition.
Mugisha explains that children with cleft palates cannot generate the suction needed for breastfeeding, making specialised feeding techniques critical to prevent malnutrition.
Once feeding is stabilised, patients are enrolled into routine follow-ups and prepared for surgical intervention based on the severity of their condition.
She notes that treatment varies: children with cleft lip alone may require a single procedure, while those with cleft palate or combined conditions often undergo multiple staged surgeries.
Typically, cleft lip repair is conducted first, followed by palate repair months later as the child grows.
Mugisha also highlighted the financial burden such procedures can place on families, noting that treatment in private facilities can cost hundreds of dollars, excluding additional hospital expenses.
However, at Mulago, these services are offered free of charge, particularly during specialised surgical camps that target children who missed early treatment due to distance, lack of awareness, or limited access to care.
“We are able to give free services, and many families are welcoming the opportunity,” she says.
The ongoing surgical camp has scheduled about 30 children, with medical teams performing up to five surgeries per day. Some patients are also receiving treatment for infections before undergoing surgery.
Doctors say the outreach programme is continuous, ensuring that children who miss the current camp will still have access to care in the coming weeks.