Dakar & Thies, Senegal

Senegal has a large number of underserved cleft patients. Although the incidence of clefts in Africa is not as high as in some other continents, the number of patients who did not undergo cleft repair is quite high due to the lack of financial resources and nationwide healthcare system that allows the rendering of such care.

GSF team will be working at Barthimée's hospital in Thies at the invitation of Jooko Cleft Association. The team plans to perform 28-30 cleft repairs on pro bono basis. GSF will also donate several anesthesia monitors and electrosurgical units to the hospital.

This will be followed by an extensive educational program in Dakar on November 18 at Sokhamon Hotel. The conference will cover the surgical, pediatric, anesthesia, nursing and epidemiological aspects of cleft care and is expected to be attended by a large number of various healthcare professional from the medical and nursing fields who are interested in cleft care.