Give a Gift – Help for a Child with Cleft Lip or Palate

About this Gift

One in every 600 children in Guatemala is born with a cleft lip or palate. Infants born with this deformity are unable to nurse, and due to the high costs of corrective surgery, they often starve to death before they can get the medical procedures they need. Children who have cleft lips and palates have trouble speaking, are severely malnourished with stunted growth, and often experience recurrent infections, which can lead to hearing loss. Due to discrimination, they typically do not attend school, are socially isolated, and have trouble finding jobs. Through the Partners in Development Cleft Lip and Palate Program, a child can receive nutritional support, life changing surgery, medication, transportation to/from the doctor’s appointments, and follow up care at no cost to the family. Not only does this save lives, but it also vastly improves the health, well being, and quality of life of the individuals and families in this program.