The Ministry of Health has raised concern over the high number of children born with cleft lip and cleft palate in Uganda, revealing that an estimated 1,000 babies are affected each year, many of whom face malnutrition, stigma, and even death if left untreated.
Speaking at the Ministry’s headquarters in Kampala, Dr Miriam Ajambo, a paediatrician and Principal Medical Officer, said the country continues to register significant numbers of congenital facial abnormalities, yet the number of specialised doctors available to handle such cases remains critically low.
“On average, in Uganda, about 1,000 children are born with cleft lip and cleft palate every year,” Dr Ajambo said. “Because the structures in the mouth are not properly formed, these children cannot feed well. Many develop severe acute malnutrition, and some die. They contribute to the under-five mortality rate in Uganda.”
Dr. Ajambo expressed deep concern over the stigma attached to children born with cleft conditions, noting that some parents abandon their babies due to societal misconceptions.
She appealed to parents and community members to seek medical help instead of hiding or abandoning affected children.
In response to the growing need, the Ministry has partnered with Rotaplast International, Rotary Club of Sonde, and Kiruddu National Referral Hospital to organise a plastic surgery camp scheduled to run from June 10 to June 18, 2026.
Dr. Ajambo, who is coordinating the camp, said it will focus on corrective surgeries for cleft lip, cleft palate, and burn contractures.
She noted that decentralising plastic surgery services to regional referral hospitals is part of the Ministry’s broader strategy of bringing specialised care closer to the people, reducing travel costs and out-of-pocket expenses for families.
Uganda currently has fewer than 50 trained plastic surgeons serving a population of over 45 million people. According to Dr Ajambo, expanding access requires not only training more surgeons but also strengthening entire surgical teams.
The Ministry is taking cues from the decentralisation model used by the Uganda Cancer Institute, which has already established a regional cancer centre in Gulu, with additional centres planned for Mbale, Mbarara, and Arua.
Dr Charles Olalo, Director of Curative Services at the Ministry, said burn injuries—especially among children compound the surgical burden.
Dr Olalo noted that congenital cleft conditions occur in approximately one in every 1,000 births, based on statistics from Mulago Hospital. Causes may include genetic factors, poor maternal nutrition, and lack of folic acid supplementation during pregnancy.
The upcoming camp marks Rotaplast International’s second mission to Uganda in recent years, following a successful 2024 camp where 77 patients received free reconstructive surgery.
Geoffrey Martin Kitakule, District Governor of Rotary District 9213, said preparations are underway to treat even more patients this year.
The seven-day camp will include pre-screening of patients, and families are being encouraged to register in advance. Rotarians across the country are helping mobilise communities to identify children and adults in need.
Daniel DeSanto, Executive Director of Rotaplast International, underscored the life-changing impact of the surgeries. An epidemiologist with a Master’s in Public Health for Development, DeSanto said the organisation’s goal goes beyond numbers.
He revealed that the 2024 camp, which operated on 77 patients, delivered care equivalent to nearly $900,000 (approximately Shs 3.5 billion) if performed abroad.
The estimated cost per patient locally is about Shs 7 million, a figure far beyond the reach of many Ugandan families.
DeSanto emphasised that Rotaplast’s missions are designed to build long-term partnerships rather than offer one-time interventions.
Beyond surgeries, the team also supports training for Ugandan surgeons under the College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA) fellowship program. Uganda has so far graduated 13 plastic surgery fellows, with 16 more currently in training.
Health officials are urging families not to hide children born with cleft conditions and to take advantage of the upcoming June camp at Kiruddu National Referral Hospital.
Registration for the June 2026 camp is currently underway, with health authorities encouraging early screening to ensure as many patients as possible receive life-changing surgery.
