PCLAPA to hold free plastic surgery camp on 12th
By Bushra Makhdoom

ISLAMABAD—Pakistan Cleft Lip and Palate Association (PCLAPA), a voluntary organization will hold a free 8 days plastic surgery camp from Nov 12.
This was decided in a meeting held here today to discuss the targets and achievements of the organization.
“The camp will be arranged at Bashir Hospital, Railway Road, Gujrat during which the children with cleft lip and cleft palate will be operated upon, by a team of British and Britain-based plastic surgeons, specialists and para-medical staff’, said Dr.Ijaz Bashir, Secretary General PCLAPA.
He told newsman that the surgery cures and helps patients with a cut lip or palate, or both disability that badly disfigures a person and his or her face due to which one face psychological stress.
Dr. Ijaz Bashir said the best results of cleft lip surgery can be ensured if the children are operated during the age three to eighteen month.
Previously, he said eighteen similar camps were held over the past few years in which more than 1,300 children were successfully operated.
While in the previous camp in March, 147 surgical operations of patients were conducted successfully who suffered from the disability of cleft lip and palate.
According to the Vice President PCLAPA M.Aftab said, one out of every 530 children born in the country suffer from cleft lip, cleft palate and this number is increasing day by day.
The patients will be examined from Capital, Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas on November 11 at House No. 7, Street 13, F-8/3. While patients or their parents will be registered in advance of the surgery, with Dr. Akhtar Rehman, President, Islamabad Chapter of PCLAPA, at this address for appointment. Phone : 051-2251275 and 0333-515-7676.
While patients, in advance of the surgery, are registered with Dr. Ijaz Bashir, at Bashir Hospital, Railway Road, Gujrat, telephone: (53)- 3521102, (53)-3524139, or (053) 3536711.
PCLAPA has also planned to hold its 10th anniversary by March next year to provide an opportunity of interaction among donors for adopting a comprehensive operational strategy to make the organization more effective to serve the human cause.
PCLAPA, with its headquarters at the surgery of Bashir Hospital, Railway Road Gujrat, was established in 1995.