The search for children in Fiji with cleft lip and palate conditions is now underway.
Merewairita Valu lecturer in the of College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences said after they gather this information, Fiji’s first national database on children with cleft lip and palate will be created.
The database is also important she said to help reach children for free medical treatment when specialist teams arrive.
These children also need to be reached she said when special feeding implements are distributed, as right from the breast-feeding stage they face great problems feeding and this often leads to major complications.
Helping these children access services such as a speech therapist she said is also important as most do not attend school as they often have a speech disorder.
Currently people have been very helpful she said in providing them with information on where they can locate these children.
Yet Valu is still appealing for more information especially for those who have a cleft lip and palate conditions in remote areas.
Meanwhile the Interplast team from Australia is expected in the country in February.
Story by: Gwen McGoon
