Creation of a Reference Centre for "Schisis (cleft lip & palate)" and ameloblastoma (jaw tumours) in Uganda.

In Eastern and Central Africa there are very large numbers of patients affected with Congenital Facial Clefts (CFC) and Benign Jaw Tumours (BJT). These severe handicaps limit the patient's social acceptance and patients functioning dramatically. Reconstructive surgery can reduce these handicaps significantly, potentially reversing their social limitations. However, many of these patients are either not treated or treated inadequately for two main reasons: first, the disease is not well understood or accepted in the local community, and secondly, there are few properly trained reconstructive surgeons in the area. This project aims to create a reference centre for CFC and BJT therapy by joining up a well-managed local Hospital (CoRSU) with a local University Surgical Department at MUST. Moreover development and sustainability of care is guaranteed by creating an Mmed degree in Reconstructive Surgery at MUST with the surgical training facilities at CoRSU. Local training will help these surgeons manage working in their own environment, and will prevent them from leaving the country (anti brain drain). Moreover, the project can potentially yield high quality research which will assist the local health community in improving their treatment of these conditions as well as being of interest to the wider international community.