Third Cleft Lip and Palate Surgery Round Aids 18 Children in Cancún
A team of five maxillofacial surgeons — four Mexican and one from Ecuador — performed free surgeries for children and teens from eight municipalities across Quintana Roo at Cancún's General Hospital.
Quintana Roo's Health Department, the state DIF family-welfare system and the IMSS Bienestar program completed the Third Round of Cleft Lip and Palate Surgeries on July 15, providing free operations to 18 children and teenagers ages three months to 17 at Cancún's "Jesús Kumate Rodríguez" General Hospital.
The surgical team included five maxillofacial surgeons — four from Mexico and one guest specialist from Ecuador — along with a dental surgeon and two medical residents, according to information released by the state government.
Patients came from eight municipalities across Quintana Roo: Benito Juárez, Lázaro Cárdenas, Puerto Morelos, Isla Mujeres, Playa del Carmen, Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Bacalar and Othón P. Blanco. Among the cases highlighted by authorities was that of Aitana López, from Isla Mujeres, the youngest patient in the round at just three months old.
Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa and Verónica Lezama Espinosa, honorary president of the state DIF system, led the closing ceremony. "We reaffirm our commitment to health, well-being and social justice for everyone, especially for those who need it most," the governor said, according to the state government's official account.
Quintana Roo's state Health Secretary, Flavio Carlos Rosado, took part in the event as part of the program's coordinating team, which also includes the state DIF system and IMSS Bienestar.
The surgeries were performed at no cost, both for patients covered by social-security institutions and those without that coverage. The only requirement to access the program was the child's CURP (national population registry number), a guardian's official identification and proof of address.
What it means for families in Cancún
Cleft lip and palate is among the most common congenital conditions in Mexico and can affect feeding, speech, hearing and dental development if not corrected in time. A reconstructive surgery of this kind in the private sector can cost several thousand pesos, which is why free rounds like this one represent a significant option for families in Cancún and the rest of Quintana Roo who lack the resources to cover the procedure on their own.
This marks the third such round held in the state, suggesting the program has become a recurring care mechanism. Families interested in future calls for applications can approach the offices of the Quintana Roo DIF system or the state Health Department to learn the date of the next round and confirm current requirements, since previous editions have been announced in advance through the state government's official channels.
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