KATHMANDU, JULY 23

For the first time in Nepal, a highly specialised hospital is going to be established in the capital only for the treatment of problems related to various facial deformities.

With the financial support of the international organisation Cleft Children International, this one-door treatment centre which will be operated in Nakkhu, Kathmandu, has been initiated with the aim of providing free treatment to Nepali citizens. An organisation has also been established at KDC General Hospital in Basundhara.

With the financial support from the world famous craniofacial Prof Dr Hermann Sailer of Cleft Children International foundation, people with problems related to clefts and various facial deformities (jaw and oral) will get free services from this hospital. In a bid to fulfil the purpose of providing free treatment to the common Nepali people, the National Institute of Craniofacial Surgery (NICS – The Face Hospital) has been established for the first time in Nepal as a foreign part of Cleft Children International established by Dr Sailer.

The National Institute of Craniofacial Surgery established in Nepal at Craniofacial surgeon Dr Sumit Singh's initiative is also operating in India and Africa with the objective of providing free services to the poor and impoverished people. Dr Singh said one in every 800 people in Nepal has problems related to lameness and various facial deformities.

'That's why, the work of establishing a hospital with facilities has been started under my own leadership and financial investment,' he shared.

KDC General Hospital informed that the hospital would come into operation in Nakkhu in about one-and-ahalf years, adding, 'Till then free treatment service will start from this week in collaboration with KDC General Hospital in Basundhara.' Dr Singh further said, 'This organisation aims to provide free surgery and treatment services to about 500 people per year in the initial phase and to 1,500 people annually in the future.'

Among the various departments of the National Institute of Craniofacial Surgery, this hospital provides free services under the Hermann Sailer Centre for Cleft and Craniofacial Anomalies and provides various other services and treatments under one roof under the National Centre for TMJ Disorder, Facial Plastic and Aesthetics, National Centre for Cranio-Maxillofacial Trauma, National Centre for Implantology and other departments for free.

'For the first time in Nepal, my long-time dream of establishing a highly specialised service organisation for the treatment of problems related to squint and various facial deformities is going to come true,' said Dr Singh, adding, 'Also, I am happy to provide free treatment services at KDC General Hospital and Nakkhu with the financial support of an organisation like Cleft Children International which is contributing to this complex and expensive treatment method at the world-class level.'

Dr Singh said many Nepali people had been forced to face scorn and disgraceful behaviour in society due to economic problems and lack of easy availability of treatment.

'Now, they can live a dignified life again through the service provided by this hospital,' he said.

A version of this article appears in the print on July 24, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.