First Cleft Operation a Success as Gudele Hospital Welcomes German Surgeons

(JUBA) – A free surgery campaign to repair cleft lips and cleft palates in children has begun at Gudele General Hospital, with 20 young patients expected to receive treatment.

The four day surgical outreach started on Wednesday and runs until 3 July. It is a joint effort by ASK Foundation, the Ministry of Health, Gudele General Hospital and Deutsche Cleft Kinderhilfe, a German humanitarian medical organisation.

Children from Juba and other parts of South Sudan are receiving corrective surgery, medication, care before and after operations and follow up treatment at no cost.

Cleft lip and cleft palate are conditions present at birth. If left untreated, they can affect feeding, speech, hearing and a child’s confidence.

ASK Foundation Executive Director Deng Arop Mawien described the campaign as an investment in the country’s future.

“Every child deserves the opportunity to smile, eat, speak and live with dignity.

Through this partnership with the Ministry of Health, Deutsche Cleft Kinderhilfe and our local hospitals, we are giving children born with cleft conditions a second chance at life.

We remain committed to ensuring that financial hardship does not prevent families from accessing this life changing surgery,” Mr Deng said.

The Medical Director of Al Sabah Children’s Hospital, Dr Justin, urged parents to seek treatment as early as possible. He said cleft conditions involve far more than appearance.

“A cleft lip or palate is more than a cosmetic condition.

It affects nutrition, speech, hearing and a child’s overall development.

Early surgical intervention can transform a child’s future, and we encourage families to seek treatment as soon as possible,” Dr Justin said.

The Medical Director of Gudele General Hospital said the facility was honoured to host the outreach. She said the hospital team was working closely with international partners to provide safe, quality care while strengthening the skills of local health professionals.

The President of the South Sudan Paediatric Association used the occasion to point to wider challenges facing child healthcare.

He cited shortages of children’s wards, paediatric intensive care units and essential medical equipment. He called for greater investment in specialised paediatric services to improve health outcomes across the country.

Leading the team of volunteer specialists, German cleft surgeon Dr Oliver said the mission aimed not only to restore children’s smiles but also to build local capacity to manage cleft conditions in the future.

“It is a privilege to work alongside our South Sudanese colleagues to restore hope to these children and their families.

Every successful operation changes not only a child’s appearance but also their ability to eat, speak and interact confidently with others.

We also hope to share knowledge and strengthen local capacity for future cleft care,” Dr Oliver said.

Organisers said the collaboration between local health institutions and international medical partners was an important step toward improving access to specialised surgical services in South Sudan.

The specialists from Deutsche Cleft Kinderhilfe arrived at Juba International Airport earlier this week. They were welcomed by the ASK Foundation team before meeting the Minister of Health and the medical team at Gudele Hospital.

During that meeting, the minister expressed deep gratitude to the German organisation for its commitment to children in South Sudan and around the world. Both medical teams discussed technical preparations for the surgeries after a briefing from the Gudele Hospital chief executive on available facilities and the hospital environment.

Before the operations began, the surgical experts together with the Gudele Hospital team assessed key hospital areas and reviewed all technical requirements to make sure everything was ready for safe procedures.

The first six patients were registered and assessed, each with unique cases scheduled across different days. Some children will undergo a single surgery, while others will return for a second procedure in six months to complete their treatment.

The very first cleft lip and cleft palate operation has already been completed successfully. The ASK Foundation said the achievement was more than a medical milestone, describing it as the restoration of smiles, dignity and brighter futures for children and families.

According to the World Health Organization, about one in every 700 babies worldwide is born with a cleft lip, cleft palate or both. The condition happens when a baby’s upper lip or the roof of the mouth fails to fuse completely during early pregnancy.

Medical experts say corrective surgery, often carried out within the first year of life, can greatly improve a child’s health, development and quality of life.

However, limited specialist services, financial constraints and low public awareness mean many children in South Sudan miss timely treatment.

The campaign targets children of all ages living with cleft lip or cleft palate. Families who know any child or adult with the condition in Juba or in the states have been asked to bring them to Gudele Hospital, where surgeries will continue until Friday, 3 July 2026.