Cleft Lip and/or Palate(Orofacial clefts) are one of the top birth defects in the world. The CDC defines the condition as ‘Cleft lip and cleft palate occur when a baby’s lip or mouth do not form properly during pregnancy.’ Globally, Every year more than 170,000 children are born with cleft lip or palate while In Africa, 32,000 Cleft births are estimated to occur every year. It’s also estimated that in Ethiopia, more than 3000 children are born with Cleft Lip and/or Palate annually. It causes children to have difficulty feeding, breathing, and speech impairments. Of the SDG goals put forward in 2015 by the United Nations, Goal 3 touches upon ensuring Healthy lives and promoting well-being FOR All at ALL AGES. By 2030, it has planned to reduce mortality from NCDs which include birth defects such as Cleft LIp and/or Palate.
Smile Train, is the world’s largest cleft charity providing corrective surgery for children born with cleft lip & palates. Since 1999, it has done over 1.5 million cleft surgeries across the globe. In Ethiopia, it has been active since 2007 helping over 32,000 children and adults FREE of charge. Unlike many organizations, Smile Train’s unique approach of training local doctors and specialists to perform corrective surgeries promotes an approach of sustainable health care provision within a country. In addition to the provision of free corrective surgery, it is committed to giving a wholesome treatment through comprehensive cleft care services. The CCC includes nutrition & feeding counseling, ENT, speech therapy, orthodontics & psychosocial programs for children born with Cleft Lip and Palate.
Currently SunEko Art for social development, through funding received from Smile Train, is implementing ‘The Moving Smile’ project to integrate artistic performances, innovative life-saving skills, psychosocial support, and research to address the exclusion of cleft children from the society. The project focuses on alerting communities & creating demand to free cleft treatment services. The project also works on demystifying the causes of cleft through performance art, identifying and addressing needs & empowering cleft communities. As one of the CCC, Psychosocial support is an area that needs to be integrated more into all the health care systems. Children born with clefts may have facial differences, visible scars, and/or differences in their speech that can lead them to feel inferior and, in many cases, experience self-esteem issues. The project encompasses regular Cleft community circles(support group) and Art-based therapy sessions. Art-based therapy is a form of psychosocial service that uses art media as its primary mode of communication. The overall aim is to enable a cleft child to effect change and grow on a personal level through the use of artistic tools in a safe and enabling environment.
Additionally, through its toll-free number, 9889, patients are being registered, provided information, and learning more about cleft lip and palate. This call center works 8 hours on weekdays and half-day on Saturdays. Referral and follow-up services are also available. Smile Train, through The Moving Smile Project, wishes that every cleft child receives the surgical treatment and Comprehensive Cleft Care services needed for children born with CLP across Ethiopia and urges families to not hide or be ashamed to bring out their children with cleft, as it is an easily treatable condition.
+251-913-513702 (Viber, Whatsup, Line, Telegram, Imo)
website: https://www.suneko.org/
