Cleft Lip and Palate Clinic turns 50

We closed off the show with an interview with Dr Heydn Bellardie – an orthodontist from the Cleft Lip and Palate Clinic at the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital. The clinic is the only one of its kind in South Africa that meets the World Health Organization requirements in relation to the services it offers.

Last week they celebrated 50 years of life changing existence. The clinic performs approximately 45-50 primary surgeries and about 20 secondary surgeries annually. About 20% of the primary surgeries are on patients with isolated cleft lips. About one-third of the primary surgeries are on patients with cleft lip and palate and the remainder is on patients with isolated cleft palates. Dr Bellardie explained more about the services they provide. For more information contact the clinic on (021) 658 5448.