Event details
- Date: October 20 – November 5, 2025
- Time: Weekdays, 07:30 – 15:30
- Venue: YGOPH – Paediatric surgery unit & operating theatres, Ngousso
- Cost: Free
- For: Children and other patients with a cleft lip or palate, and their families
- Status: Completed
Quick contact
Event overview:
Eight months after the February campaign, YGOPH opened its operating theatres again from 20 October to 5 November 2025 for a second free campaign to repair cleft lips and palates. Holding two campaigns in one year allowed us to reach more children and to shorten the time families wait for surgery.
Cleft surgery has a special place in our history. In November 2012, YGOPH hosted the first campaign of the partnership between Synergies Africaines and Smile Train, during which 64 patients from several African countries were operated on. Campaigns have continued ever since, building the skills of our surgeons, anaesthetists and nurses in reconstructive surgery.
As in February, each patient received a complete pathway of care, from the first surgical consultation and the pre-anaesthesia assessment to the operation, recovery and follow-up visits after going home. Families also received advice on feeding and speech, and on the importance of attending every follow-up appointment.
Highlights
Free surgery
Cleft repair was offered free of charge to eligible patients.
Complete care pathway
Consultation, anaesthesia assessment, surgery, recovery and follow-up.
More than a decade of experience
YGOPH has hosted cleft surgery campaigns since 2012.
Support for families
Advice on feeding, wound care and speech after surgery.
Programme
- Week 1 – Screening consultations: Surgeons assessed each registered patient and planned the operation.
- Week 1 – Pre-anaesthesia checks: Anaesthetists confirmed each child’s fitness for surgery.
- Weeks 1 – 3 – Operating days: Operations in our theatres, with monitoring in the recovery room and on the ward.
- After discharge – Follow-up visits: Wound checks and advice on feeding and speech development.
Who should attend?
- Babies and children with a cleft lip and/or cleft palate
- Families registered after the February 2025 campaign
- Health workers wishing to refer a patient
Practical information
- Venue: Paediatric surgery unit, YGOPH, Ngousso – Yaoundé 5th.
- When: 20 October to 5 November 2025, weekdays from 07:30.
- Cost: Cleft surgery was free during the campaign.
- Register: Registration for future campaigns: paediatric surgery unit or (+237) 670 607 278.
What was achieved
The campaign brought new hope to children and families from Yaoundé and beyond, and further strengthened our teams’ experience in reconstructive surgery. In September 2026, Synergies Africaines and Smile Train renewed the cleft partnership that began at our hospital in 2012, a sign that this work will continue.
Questions & answers
Is another campaign planned?
Campaigns are organised regularly. Register your child with our paediatric surgery unit and we will contact you as soon as the next date is set. Dates are also announced on this events page.
What should I bring to the first consultation?
Your child’s health booklet, any previous medical reports, the identity card of the parent or guardian, and a phone number where we can reach you.