BENIN, Edo – Edo State First Lady, Betsy Obaseki, has called for more collaboration from well-meaning individuals and organizations to offer medical services and free surgeries to people suffering from various ailments across the country.

Mrs. Obaseki made the appeal during her visit to recipients of the Smile Train free cleft lip and palate surgeries at the Edo Specialist Hospital (ESH).

The visit marked the conclusion of the free medical care initiative.

Expressing her satisfaction with the professionalism and quality of work provided by the Smile Train team and the staff of ESH, Her Excellency noted the remarkable difference in the patients’ appearances.

She observed that in two weeks’ time, when the patients are due to be discharged, they will look completely normal. Mrs. Obaseki however expressed her gratitude to Smile Train, as well as the Managing Director and staff of ESH, for their commitment to the project, praising the hospital’s cleanliness and the absence of complications.

Mrs Obaseki also emphasized the importance of awareness, adding, “When people don’t know about something, there is no way they can offer their support and help. This initiative is not just about carrying out interventions but also creating awareness to let people know that there are many around us who have these problems but are hiding due to a lack of means or support for corrective surgeries.”

She urged those with resources, including medical professionals who are dedicated to missionary work, to offer their support.

The Lead Consultant of the Smile Train team reported that twenty individuals showed up for the surgeries, with eighteen procedures successfully completed.

The remaining patients are being prepared for their surgeries. She also revealed a plan for Smile Train, in collaboration with ESH, to establish the hospital as a dedicated center for free cleft lip and palate surgeries.

She said “despite the fact that we are ending today, the programme is not ending. They can always come, the front desk is already equipped on how to handle them. We can always keep doing these surgeries periodically”.

Recipients of the surgeries expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the management of the hospital, Smile Train, and Her Excellency Betsy Obaseki for making this life-changing initiative possible.

“The day I brought my child here, the way her face was looking, I was not really happy. But thank God they did the surgery and everything went well. I am grateful to the Wife of the Governor and the doctors for the privilege given to us to partake in the surgeries.”

Mrs Oise said “Yes my baby is okay. The surgery was successful and she came out looking better and fine than the way she was. You know, the worries and tension preceding the surgeries have disappeared.”

This collaborative effort highlights the ongoing commitment to improving healthcare access and outcomes for those in need within Edo State and beyond.