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Smile Train, the world’s largest cleft-focused charity, has inaugurated its first Smile Train Africa Alumni Network (STAAN) General Assembly, bringing together healthcare professionals from across the continent to strengthen local efforts in delivering comprehensive cleft care
A statement signed by Emily Manjeru, Smile Train’s Senior Manager, Public Relations and Communication for Africa, described the initiative as a timely, holistic and pragmatic step towards sustainable cleft care in Africa.
The inaugural assembly attracted 35 surgeons, anaesthesia providers and speech professionals from Nigeria, Mali, Zambia, Niger, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Cameroon and Burkina Faso to establish a platform for mentorship, research, advocacy and knowledge sharing aimed at improving access to safe, high quality cleft care
The initiative comes at a time when Africa continues to grapple with a severe shortage of specialist surgical personnel which, according to the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery, most African countries remain below the recommended benchmark of at least 20 surgeons, anaesthetists and obstetricians per 100,000 population
Speaking at the gala dinner held during the assembly, former Ekiti State Governor and Founder of the Amandla Institute for Policy and Leadership Advancement, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, urged participants to expand their influence beyond clinical practice by shaping policies and strengthening healthcare systems
“The future of cleft care in Africa will not be shaped only by surgeons who close lips and palates. It will be shaped by those who influence policy, build systems, generate evidence and speak for children whose outcomes depend on far more than an operation,” Fayemi said
Smile Train’s Vice-President and Regional Director for Africa, Mrs. Nkeiruka Obi, described the newly established network as a transformative platform for advancing quality healthcare across the continent
“This network is more than a community of professionals; it is a movement of African leaders committed to ensuring every child born with a cleft has access to quality care close to home. Together, we can build stronger programmes, mentor the next generation and transform lives,” she stated
Also speaking, the <a href="https://absafricatv.com/top-trending-national-parks-around-the-world/” title=”Top trending national parks around the world”>National Surgical, Obstetrics, Anaesthesia and Nursing Plan (NSOANP) Desk Officer, Dr. Vie network to strengthen surgical care delivery
“Strong partnerships are essential to building sustainable surgical systems. We look forward to working with STAAN members to strengthen cleft care, expand access and ensure that no patient is left behind,” she stated
President of STAAN and Consultant Plastic Surgeon, Associate Professor Dr. Oti Nimi Aria, said the network was established to address disparities in cleft care across Africa by promoting collaboration and locally driven solutions
According to him, many African countries still depend on visiting medical missions or isolated programmes for cleft treatment, making sustained local capacity development essential
“STAAN provides an African-led platform for collaboration, mentorship, advocacy and the sharing of best practices to improve the quality and sustainability of cleft care,” Aria said
Smile Train disclosed that an estimated 40,000 children are born with cleft conditions across Africa annually. Since launching its programmes on the continent in 2002, the organisation has supported more than 200,000 free cleft surgeries
The charity also supports over 10 fellowship programmes in paediatric surgery, plastic surgery, anaesthesia and related specialties through partnerships with institutions including the University of Nairobi, the West African College of Surgeons, the College of Surgeons of East, Central and Southern Africa (COSECSA), the College of Anaesthesiologists of East, Central and Southern Africa (CANECSA), and the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE).
These collaborations have helped train more than 170 surgeons and anaesthesia professionals serving underserved communities across Africa
Established in 2024, the Smile Train Africa Alumni Network comprises graduates of the organisation’s fellowship programmes and seeks to promote African-led solutions by adapting global best practices to local realities while advancing equity, sustainability and local ownership of cleft care across the African continent
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