A group of American surgeons are expected in Zimbabwe at the end of this month to offer free surgery to children with birth defects, the health ministry said on Friday.

The group of ear, nose and throat surgeons are scheduled to be in the country from September 29 until October 11 to attend to cases of cleft lip and cleft palate, the ministry said.

The Ministry of Health and Child Welfare said only children would be attended to because most adults had their defects corrected during childhood.

Many of the specialists have since left the country for greener pastures hence the failure to conduct any repairs in the last five years, the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry said they are inviting all those who know of children requiring corrective surgery for these conditions to contact Harare Central Hospital and Parirenyatwa Hospital where they will be admitted.

Source: Xinhua