Free cleft surgeries are to be performed on children with the birth defect at the Koforidua Regional Hospital from November 02 to November 13.

This is being organized by the management of the facility in partnership with “Operation Smile” an NGO.

A press release from the hospital said parents of children admitted after the surgery would be provided with accommodation and lunch.

It called for everybody, who wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to report to its out-patients department (OPD) for pre-surgery assessment.

“Operation Smile” has since year 2011 been organizing medical outreach in collaboration with the Health Ministry and the Ghana Health Service to put a smile on the faces of children and people with cleft palate.

It is estimated that one in every 750 births in Ghana suffers from the defect and without surgery, nine in 10 children born with the condition could die.

The birth defect occurs when a baby's lip or mouth does not form properly during pregnancy.