Meeting Needs has funded facial surgery for 25 youngsters in Ethiopia who suffer cleft lip and palate disfigurement. This is life-changing work that saves lives, prevents malnourishment and enables education – this project delivers 25 operations, 25 lives changed, 25 beautiful smiles and 25 sets of delighted parents.
The event industry foundation is working through Project Harar, who operate in some of the most disadvantaged and rural areas of Ethiopia. Meeting Needs has supported Project Harar since 2009. The cost of reaching the capital Addis Ababa makes it impossible for families to reach treatment without Project Harar´s services.
Without treatment, babies and children face a multitude of developmental issues. Around 90 per cent of children with an untreated cleft condition will not live beyond 19 years old and 50 per cent of children under five years old with a cleft condition are undernourished. Only a quarter of children with both cleft lip and palate have ever been to school, and many will be forced to drop out without corrective surgery.
Project Harar provides free services to families in remote and disadvantaged areas across Ethiopia, including preparation for surgery and comprehensive post-operative rehabilitation services.
The surgical programme takes approximately 10 days for a patient and guardian during the surgical phase. Prior to this there is community awareness, registration of patients and after surgery follow-up with nutritional support, speech therapy and working with other agencies and social workers so that children can attend school. Photos show Abdulher and Milkessa before and after their successful operations in Addis Ababa.
To find out how you can help Meeting Needs, contact Karen Small on ksmall@meetingneeds.org.uk
