By Cherrylin Caacbay
The Quezon City local government started giving free cleft lip and cleft palate surgery to indigent residents on Saturday, Dec. 4.
Under the “Ngiting QC” program, the Rosario Maclang Bautista General Hospital (RMBGH) and QC Kabahagi Center for Children with Disabilities offer free surgery cleft lip surgery for infants five months old and up and cleft palate surgery for kids one to 15 years old.
The children will have to pass a thorough assessment, interview by the doctor, laboratory tests and swab test prior to the scheduled surgery.
Aside from regular checkups, children who will undergo surgery will also go through the speech therapy program of Kabahagi Center.
Individuals who will avail free cleft surgery may send a message through RMBGH-QC Cleft Center Facebook page or proceed to RMBGH on IBP Road in Barangay Batasan Hills every Tuesday or Thursday and look for Ms. Arlyn Naval.
Cleft lip is a deformity or a physical separation of the two sides of the upper lip while cleft palate is a split or opening in the roof of the mouth.
Children who have cleft lip deformity often experience bullying.