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Pregnant women and parents in the country have been warned to be mindful of the drugs and food they take in order to avoid giving birth to children with cleft.
They have been warned to stop killing or be ashamed of children with the problem.
The team leader of a US based philanthropic organisation, Smile Train International, Abdulrasheed Nasir, handed down the warning on Tuesday in Ilọrin, the state capital, during an awareness programme.
The programme is in partnership with the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), to mark the World Cleft Day.
He said over 200 children with cleft lips and palates have been treated in the last 16 years.
AbdulRasheed lamented the rate of stigma against patients with cleft among the people.
According to him, cleft is a mixture of genetics and environmental factors and warned pregnant mothers to be careful of the drugs and food they take.
“Genetics when combined with environmental factors like food and drugs may lead to having babies with clefts.
“People who are diabetics, smoke, take alcohol or are obese are at risk of having babies with clefts. Drugs used for seizure or convulsion may also cause it.
“So, it is important for pregnant mothers and parents to watch the food or drugs they take,” he noted.
(Daily Trust)
