A myth related to witchcraft and infidelity has been busted by Dr Seidu Bello, Director of Cleft and Facial Deformity Foundation, Abuja.
Dr Bello busted the myth during a training, which has “The Role of the Media as a Tool for Reporting Cleft” as its theme.
He explained that orofacial cleft, also known as cleft lip and cleft palate, openings or splits in the roof of the mouth and lip was a medical abnormality.
Bello said the medical abnormality occurs when certain body parts and structures do not fuse during foetal development.
“It is a medical abnormality and not an act of witchcraft, infidelity and other myths,” Bello said on Tuesday in Keffi, Nasarawa State.
Bello further explained that the medical abnormally usually occurs within the first three months of pregnancy.
According to him, the major cause of Orofacial cleft is unknown.
“What is certain is that there are predisposing factors which are either genetic or environmental,” he said.
Bello further revealed that there were two types of cleft: the typical and atypical, adding that both could be repaired through surgery.
The two-day training organised by SmileTrain is focused on enhancing journalists’ knowledge and understanding of basic concepts of cleft lip, their differences, among others.
SmileTrain has 54 surgical partners across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria who provide free comprehensive cleft care and surgery in their own communities.