Foundation Seeks Public Craniofacial Hospital After 15 Years Outreach

The chief executive officer of the Cleft and Facial Deformity Foundation (CFDF) Dr Seidu Bello, has urged the federal government to establish a hospital that would dedicate its services to tackling facial deformities and tumours.

Bello said the proposed hospital  would address the gap in specialised care for people living with facial deformities.

He mads the appeal on Tuesday at the 30th edition of the free craniofacial surgery programme at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH).

Bello said the call came after 15 years of work in the field, stressing that, “This milestone is a testament not only to the tireless efforts of our medical and support teams but also to the courage of the children and adults whose lives we touch through these surgeries,” he stated.

The surgeon stated that in the past 15 years, CFDF has provided craniofacial care to patients who would otherwise lack access due to poverty and limited health infrastructure.

“Our mission goes beyond surgery; it is about restoring dignity, hope, and confidence,” Bello said, adding that the foundation has carried out about 2,750 complex craniofacial surgeries and run awareness campaigns in multiple communities.

“The foundation has treated a broad spectrum of cases, including congenital facial clefts, facial tumors, noma, and TMJ ankylosis, commonly known as lockjaw.”

Having operated in five of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones and across about 15 states, Bello noted that “facial deformities are real, they are significant, and they demand special attention.”

He stressed that while maxillofacial units exist nationwide, “there is no dedicated craniofacial facility in Nigeria.”

He proposed building fully equipped centers of excellence in each of the six geopolitical zones to handle advanced procedures such as facial reconstruction and microvascular transfers.

He also highlighted CFDF’s proposed “Abuja craniofacial hospital” project in Karshi, Nasarawa State, and appealed for public support to make it a reality.

Bello hailed the T.Y. Danjuma Foundation for its financial backing since 2016 and dedicated his Leadership Newspaper “Primary Health Care Model Of The Year 2025” award to patients in need of urgent craniofacial care.

In her remarks, Programme Officer for Health at the TY Danjuma Foundation, Dr. Eucheria Abua, lauded the team of surgeons for coming together “to assist patients who had been in dire need of help.”

Also speaking, the Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu, represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, lauded the foundation for the initiative.

He said issues on health “have become an increasing and complex matter that require serious attention” stressing that “it’s no longer possible for one person to say he can do it alone.”

He proposed collaboration between the TY Danjuma Foundation, CFDF, and the foundation run by the wife of the Cross River State Governor to sustain the programme.