By Faith Lawino.

A normal mother equals a normal baby or even a perfect baby as one might put it. Elizabeth Achieng’, a young mother from Siaya County had a different experience of a perfect baby as her newborn was termed ‘unusual’ by the naysayers and gossip mongers in her community.

Elizabeth’s son, a three-month-old baby was born with Cleft Lip. She had to wake up stronger than each and every day to take in all the harsh words and insults hurled at her by some of the community members who were ignorant to recognize that Cleft Lip was a condition and not a curse.

Her young son, James Victor Wanga, was then considered an outcast and an omen. Some people who thought they were the wisest even advised her to hide baby and some, to kill the baby for it would only bring about misfortunes in the village.

Today, Elizabeth can put on a sigh of relief, thanks to the Free Cleft Lip and Palate Surgery Medical Camp done by Love without Reason (LWR) in partnership with Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH). Baby Victor too would grow up not a ‘curse’ anymore. His would only be to tell the tale

The Free Cleft Lip and Palate Surgery Medical Camp kicked off on 20^th November, a day scheduled for screening and 21^st to 25^th as surgery days at JOOTRH. Cleft lip and palate is a genetic condition, meaning it is hereditary and can be passed from generation to generation.

It can also happen due to environmental conditions, what a mother eats or drinks and certain medications she uses during pregnancy.

The surgery camp ended yesterday with a total of 33 patients successfully operated on, all travelling back to their homes Normal and okay. The medical camp drew people from different counties to mention; Siaya, Kisumu, Nakuru, Nairobi county among others and even as far as Lodwar. The patients included both children and adults.

These patients would never again undergo the humiliation and stigmatization that come along with being born with a Cleft lip or Cleft palate.

Jackson Omondi is a 13-year-old boy smoothly recovering from a cleft Lip Surgery. Most of the time, he wants to cover his lips so that nobody would notice his condition.

A room full of people would make him uneasy. The only thing that he thinks of is ‘how ugly he looks with his cleft lip. ‘The young lad has been operated on but still feels the urge to cover up his face. The stigma that he had received from his peers and community members is an existing wound. ‘That he is not enough and that he is ugly!’

This is how bad stigma is, it is an ulcer that kills from inside. Omondi’s mum overcome with a wide range of emotions recalls how his son would say, “Mum these people will see my mouth, give me a handkerchief, I want to cover my lips. Painful.

Cleft lip is a condition that happens if the tissues that makes up the lip does not join completely before birth. This results to an opening in the upper lip. It can be a small slit or a large opening that goes through the lip into the nose (Cleft Palate).

Cleft Lip and palate sometimes however, is not a genetic condition, but occurs due to ordeals that happen to people. Joseph (not his real name) was involved in a tragic accident that at least spared his life but left him with a cleft upper lip and a lower lip that was completely damaged and had to be replaced. He patiently waited for six months and finally, the Merciful God answered his prayers through the Love Without Reason in partnership with JOOTRH free medical Cleft lip and palate surgery camp.

Love Without Reason (LWR) is a blessing to many not only in Kisumu county but around the country. LWR had its first medical camp in Kenya in 2018, the Nakuru Medical Camp. It also had another medical camp, the Nairobi camp in February 2020. LWR is dedicated to a mission of love and to build a foundation of self-respect and value for each human life. Love Without Reason works in different countries-India, Bangalore, Mumbai, Kenya, Zimbabwe and USA.

JOOTRH lives to serve as a referral hospital serving County, Sub-county, and private hospitals in more than 10 Counties in the Western Kenya region with a population of more than 10 million people. The hospital offers a 24/7 services with experienced staff within the hospital that can handle all life-threatening situations

Cleft Lip and Palate condition is not a curse. It happens for several reasons but importantly it can be genetic. There is need to avoid and prevent stigma of those born with cleft lip or palate or might have developed the condition due to factors such as accidents among others. They are Human and Normal as well. ‘There is need for more support for people with Cleft lip and palate as well as love.’ This is according to Nurse in Charge at JOOTRH Theatre Natala Eunice.

Nurse Natala also emphasized on the need to bring more stakeholders on board to embrace partnership and collaborations for Cleft Lip and Palate cases.