CLEFT LIP AND PALATE
& BURNS RECONSTRUCTION
In partnership with the Indus Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan, Islamic Help began a pilot project to send a team of plastic surgeons to help support children with cleft lips and palates and people suffering from burns, sadly enough, the large proportion of these people with burns are women who have been burnt on purpose with acid. The horrifying facial deformities that result require extensive surgery and counselling in order to rehabilitate the patient
The team of specialists was led by Dr Mohammed Ali Jawad, a senior plastic consultant surgeon based at the Chelsea and Westminister Hospital in London. Dr Jawad’s speciality is reconstruction following burns, especially facial burns. Also part of the team was was Dr Charles Viva, also a plastic consultant surgeon who specialises in cleft lip and palate. For the past 30 years Dr. Viva has travelled the world and treated thousands children and adults with facial deformities.
During their week long stay in Karachi over 200 patients were seen and treated in the outpatient clinic and a total of 125 surgeries were done. This included 105 children with with cleft lip and palate and 20 women who were burns victims. This group in particular required extensive surgeries, and in most cases, multiple surgeries will be required over the coming years.
With the support of donors, Islamic Help and the Indus Hospital were able to ensure that all surgeries were performed free of cost and that none of the patients were required to pay anything. The excellent surgical results and the genuine need for this type of care has convinced all parties involved (Islamic Help, Indus Hospital and team of surgeons) to continue to project on a regular and larger basis so that more patients can benefit.
An important aspect of this project is also the long term training of local surgeons to enhance the local capacity to deal with affected patients.
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The team of specialists was led by Dr Mohammed Ali Jawad, a senior plastic consultant surgeon based at the Chelsea and Westminister Hospital in London. Dr Jawad’s speciality is reconstruction following burns, especially facial burns. Also part of the team was was Dr Charles Viva, also a plastic consultant surgeon who specialises in cleft lip and palate. For the past 30 years Dr. Viva has travelled the world and treated thousands children and adults with facial deformities..jpg)