Unity State Urges Families to Seek Free Cleft Care

(BENTIU, UNITY STATE) – Free cleft lip and cleft palate surgeries for 20 children began on 1 July 2026 at Gudele Hospital, following a coordination meeting held on 29 June between South Sudanese officials and German medical specialists.

The surgeries, which will run until 3 July, are being provided by specialists from Deutsche Cleft Kinderhilfe of Germany. The initiative was launched by ASK Foundation, which led the coordination meeting to finalise preparations for the surgical mission.

The meeting brought together the National Minister of Health, Hon. Luke Thomson Thoan, the Unity State Minister of Finance and Planning, Hon. Ling Gatgach Nhial, the leadership of ASK Foundation and the medical team from Gudele Hospital.

The Minister of Information and Communications of Unity State, Hon. Nyakenya Johannes, represented the State Minister of Health at the meeting.

Hon. Nyakenya Johannes said the Unity State Government is committed to raising public awareness so that children and adults living with cleft lip or cleft palate, particularly those from Unity State, are informed and able to access the free surgeries.

The visiting specialists and the hospital medical team also assessed the readiness of Gudele Hospital ahead of the surgeries.

The Ministry of Information and Communications is calling on anyone who knows a child or adult living with a cleft lip or cleft palate, whether in Unity State or elsewhere in South Sudan, to prepare for the next phase of the programme and refer them to ASK Foundation and Gudele Hospital to benefit from the free medical service.

The Ministry extended its appreciation to ASK Foundation for its leadership in coordinating the humanitarian initiative and for giving children born with cleft conditions a renewed chance to smile, speak and live with confidence.