https://en.sputniknews.africa/20250513/africas-medical-ingenuity-transforms-lives-and-builds-healthier-futures-1072999021.html
Africa's Medical Ingenuity Transforms Lives and Builds Healthier Futures
Africa's Medical Ingenuity Transforms Lives and Builds Healthier Futures
Sputnik Africa
Beneath the world's struggle with birth deformities, a quiet revolution in healing is unfolding. African surgeons are pioneering innovative medical techniques... 13.05.2025, Sputnik Africa
2025-05-13T13:06+0200
2025-05-13T13:06+0200
2025-05-13T13:06+0200
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Africa's Medical Ingenuity Transforms Lives and Builds Healthier Futures
Sputnik Africa
Beneath the world's struggle with birth deformities, a quiet revolution in healing is unfolding. African surgeons are turning to innovative medical techniques to restore function and dignity, offering hope, and defying the dent of stigma on patients with medical miracles.
Africa’s medical innovators are rewriting global healthcare narratives. In this feature, African Currents highlights two trailblazing fields—reconstructive surgery and otorhinolaryngology—through conversations with South Africa’s leading surgeons. Their groundbreaking work, from cleft-palate repairs to 3D-printed ear transplants, demonstrates how African ingenuity is solving critical health challenges while inspiring the next generation of medical pioneers.Smiles Renewed:Every child deserves the chance to smile, eat, and speak without struggle—but for many born with a cleft lip or palate, life begins with daunting challenges. These conditions, often left untreated in parts of Africa due to limited access to surgical care, can severely affect feeding, hearing, and speech. Organizations like Operation Smile are helping to bridge that gap by providing free surgeries, training local doctors, and raising awareness across the continent. Their work restores dignity and hope for countless families. African Currents spoke with Professor Anil Madaree, Medical Director of Operation Smile and Head of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine (South Africa), to learn more about their groundbreaking medical procedures—and the global impact of their life-saving work.He enriched the discussion by outlining the factors behind cleft lip and palate cases, emphasizing the critical role of early diagnosis and preventive care.From Silence to Sound:In the same spirit of innovation and compassion, Professor Mashudu Tshifularo, head of otorhinolaryngology at the University of Pretoria in South Africa, made global headlines in 2019 when he performed the world’s first middle ear transplant using 3D-printed bones. This groundbreaking achievement not only restored hearing but also redefined the possibilities for African-led medical advancements.The South African surgeon began his medical journey uncertain of his path, yet he ultimately made history by pioneering 3D-printed surgical solutions. Today, he urges young Africans not to give up on their dreams, reminding them that self-belief is the first step to transforming their world.To find out what else our guests had to say, tune in to the African Currents podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.In addition to the website, you can also catch our episodes on Telegram.► You can also listen to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Deezer, Pocket Casts, Afripods, Podcast Addict.► Check out all the episodes of African Currents.
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Africa's Medical Ingenuity Transforms Lives and Builds Healthier Futures
Beneath the world's struggle with birth deformities, a quiet revolution in healing is unfolding. African surgeons are pioneering innovative medical techniques to restore function and dignity—offering hope and defying the dent of stigma on patients through medical miracles.
Africa’s medical innovators are rewriting global healthcare narratives. In this feature, African Currents highlights two trailblazing fields—reconstructive surgery and otorhinolaryngology—through conversations with South Africa’s leading surgeons. Their groundbreaking work, from cleft-palate repairs to 3D-printed ear transplants, demonstrates how African ingenuity is solving critical health challenges while inspiring the next generation of medical pioneers.
Every child deserves the chance to smile, eat, and speak without struggle—but for many born with a cleft lip or palate, life begins with daunting challenges. These conditions, often left untreated in parts of Africa due to limited access to surgical care, can severely affect feeding, hearing, and speech. Organizations like Operation Smile are helping to bridge that gap by providing free surgeries, training local doctors, and raising awareness across the continent. Their work restores dignity and hope for countless families.
African Currents spoke with Professor Anil Madaree, Medical Director of Operation Smile and Head of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine (South Africa), to learn more about their groundbreaking medical procedures—and the global impact of their life-saving work.
He enriched the discussion by outlining the factors behind cleft lip and palate cases, emphasizing the critical role of early diagnosis and preventive care.
"There is a connection between the gene-environment association. So, with the genes themselves, about 5% of clefts are genetic, and about 95% of them are not. So that could be the environment or genes we have not yet been able to tap into. So it’s about the genetic makeup that you have. Certain environmental conditions will cause it, like malnutrition or maybe during pregnancy, the mother not getting enough vitamins, etc., but we're not exactly sure," Professor Madaree said.
In the same spirit of innovation and compassion, Professor Mashudu Tshifularo, head of otorhinolaryngology at the University of Pretoria in South Africa, made global headlines in 2019 when he performed the world’s first middle ear transplant using 3D-printed bones. This groundbreaking achievement not only restored hearing but also redefined the possibilities for African-led medical advancements.
The South African surgeon began his medical journey uncertain of his path, yet he ultimately made history by pioneering 3D-printed surgical solutions. Today, he urges young Africans not to give up on their dreams, reminding them that self-belief is the first step to transforming their world.
"I was 11 years old. I remember. Then the teacher would have a tendency of asking each one of us, What would you like to become? And for me, it just became spontaneous. I stood up and said, I’d like to become a doctor. And then I was told I’m too stupid and not intelligent enough, so I'll never become a doctor [...]. But the only thing that has controlled me and changed my thinking is that when you have a breakthrough as a child, as a black child. It is not for you, but it is for a black child every day," Professor Tshifularo noted.
To find out what else our guests had to say, tune in to the African Currents podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.
In addition to the website, you can also catch our episodes on
Telegram.► Check out all the episodes of African Currents. 
