International Journal of Surgery (London, England) · 12 authors, 8 centres
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This editorial reviews the epidemiology, management progress, and remaining gaps in orofacial cleft care across Africa, highlighting workforce shortages, cultural barriers, and poverty as key obstacles. The authors recommend expanding management facilities, training multidisciplinary teams, implementing prevention strategies, and strengthening national surgical workforce policies.
This narrative editorial examines the state of orofacial cleft (OFC) management in Africa, noting an estimated birth prevalence of 0.5 per 1000 live births with wide regional variation. Societal stigma, cultural barriers, poverty, late presentation, and limited access to services compound the management challenge. The editorial recommends building more clinic facilities, training diverse multidisciplinary therapy teams, distributing workforce equitably to rural areas, implementing prevention strategies including folic acid supplementation and vaccination programs, and integrating plastic surgery into National Health Plans through National Surgical Anesthesia and Obstetric Plans.
