Cleft Palate
A cleft palate is a congenital disability characterized by an opening or split on the roof of the mouth, known as the palate.
Cleft palate is thought to be influenced by the interaction of the mother and father’s genetic and environmental factors.
- 1 in 700 babies is born with cleft lip and palate worldwide.1
- 94% of those children come from low- and middle-income countries.2
1 https://www.smiletrain.org/what-are-clefts
2https://www.researchgate.net/publication/352004699_Cleft_Lip_andor_Palate_and_Associated_Risks_in_Lower-Middle-Income_Countries_A_Systematic_Review
If Not Treated
If Not Treated
Without medical intervention, babies born with cleft lip and palate could have difficulties eating, drinking, speaking, and hearing. Many will be malnourished due to regurgitating food.
Children with disabilities often experience stigma and discrimination, leading to poor self-confidence and isolation.
Treatment
Treatment
While the healing process after a cleft surgery isn’t long, the long-term healing and follow-up care continue throughout a child’s life. Doctors monitor the child for any changes in their speech that might require therapy or additional surgery. As children grow, they might need additional adjustments like orthodontic work or bone grafts. Regular check-ups and possible surgeries can continue until adulthood.
Before
Children like Alazar rely on the support and generosity of people like you to receive surgery and comprehensive care offered at CURE hospitals.
We treat cleft palate at CURE Children’s Hospitals in Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Niger, Philippines, and Zambia.
After
Children like Alazar rely on the support and generosity of people like you to receive surgery and comprehensive care offered at CURE hospitals.
We treat cleft palate at CURE Children’s Hospitals in Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Niger, Philippines, and Zambia.
