Koli Abi Spreads Knowledge — and Smiles — in Togo

For almost 29 years, Koli Abi has worked as a nurse and operating aid at the Centre Hospitalier Préfectoral d’Aného (CHPA) in Togo. About three years ago, he began traveling up and down the country to help raise local awareness about clefts and spread the word that free care is available through Smile Train.  

Can you tell us how you got involved with Smile Train and your activities as a social worker?

Our cleft surgeon, Dr. Sesime Sanni, and I worked together at the hospital where I was part of the obstetric unit. Together, we had seen patients in their 30s, 40s, and older who still didn’t know that cleft surgery was available or the cost was out of their reach. So it was very exciting when she called me and said she had started working with an NGO, Smile Train, and she wanted to know if I was available to help them find patients in need of cleft surgeries in the nearby town of Aneho.

I said yes, and we started cleft care awareness and education campaigns. Many people told me about families they knew in need of treatment. After that, Dr. Sanni asked me to continue, and so I began community outreach campaigns in Kara. From that day on, I have been dedicated to helping Smile Train activities – with my nursing background, I also assist Dr. Sanni in surgeries for children.

How do you raise awareness of cleft care?  

When I go into the communities, I bring posters to share. For example, when I go to a hospital, or public places like the market, I put one or two posters up. I also talk with people and answer their questions. I tell them about Smile Train, how they sponsor care for children with clefts like those on the posters, and then I show them more pictures. I tell them, if you know someone who has a cleft, we can take care of them for free.  

Is it difficult to convince people who have clefts, or their families, to come in for surgery?  

If someone does not allow their child to have surgery, I can talk to local authorities, like the village head, and tell them what’s going on. I’ll give you an example: There was a child who I had to take to the hospital. I was given the number of their parent, but he didn’t want to meet me. So instead, I went through my brother, who is the director of social services. The mayor and the village chief also called him.  

What does it feel like when someone finally goes in for surgery, and afterward when you see them for the first time? How does it feel knowing their lives will be changed forever due to your work?

It's a feeling of joy. The patients always call me to say thank you. Sometimes, I give them Dr. Sanni's number, too, and I ask them to call and thank her personally.  

We’ve heard from multiple people that the families you’ve helped are now going out and spreading the word about cleft care. How do your former patients help you in your work?  

They help me a lot. It is like a ripple effect. Former patients call to tell us that they know of other people with clefts. I have them send me a picture of the person. Sometimes it is not a cleft and sometimes it is.

In your opinion, what would accentuate the ripple effect even more? What is needed to have even greater results?  

We need to continue to raise awareness. We need to go from village to village — not all the time, but if it's every three months, that will be good. We should use local media and radio stations. And we need to involve village chiefs.