Lady Dufferin Hospital is committed to advancing excellence in patient care through continuous medical education. We were honored to host an expert session on “Enhancing Cleft Care Expertise,” facilitated by Prof. Dr. M. Ashraf Ganatra from Muskurahat Foundation Pakistan Trust.

Cleft lip and cleft palate are congenital conditions that can affect a child’s feeding, speech, hearing, and overall development. Common signs include an opening in the upper lip or roof of the mouth, difficulty feeding, recurrent ear infections, and delayed speech.

These conditions can result from a combination of genetic and environmental factors during early pregnancy. While the exact cause is not always known, early diagnosis and timely intervention play a vital role in improving a child’s health, development, and quality of life.

The session provided valuable insights into the latest approaches to cleft care, including early diagnosis, treatment planning, optimal surgical timing, perioperative patient management, postoperative care, and the importance of long-term multidisciplinary rehabilitation. Participants also learned how coordinated teamwork among surgeons, pediatricians, speech therapists, orthodontists, audiologists, nutritionists, and psychologists can significantly improve both functional and aesthetic outcomes while enhancing the overall quality of life for children with cleft conditions.

Together, we continue to strengthen knowledge, improve surgical outcomes, and create brighter smiles and brighter futures for children born with cleft conditions.