Cleft care in Nigeria: past, present, and future

Area of Science:

• Craniofacial Surgery
• Public Health
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Orofacial cleft care in Nigeria has historical roots, with surgical interventions documented before the end of the colonial era.
• The current landscape of cleft care delivery in Nigeria is characterized by a recent surge in established centers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the historical progress and current status of orofacial cleft care in Nigeria.
• To propose future directions for enhancing cleft care delivery in the country.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature review on cleft care in Nigeria was conducted.
• A survey of existing cleft care centers was performed using pretested, self-administered electronic questionnaires sent to coordinators.

Main Results:

• Thirty out of 39 identified cleft care centers (76.9%) responded, with most established between 2006 and 2010.
• While cheiloplasty and palatoplasty are widely offered, interdisciplinary care and specialized treatments are limited by manpower shortages.
• Key challenges include administrative bottlenecks, resource limitations (beds, theater space, drugs), and difficulties with laboratory investigations.

Conclusions:

• Improving cleft care requires addressing administrative hurdles, strengthening existing facilities, and encouraging specialists in underserved areas.
• Developing existing centers into comprehensive pediatric craniofacial centers through concerted efforts and international collaboration is recommended.