Imagine instead of watching your baby grow plump rolls of fat on their tiny legs, you see them get thinner because they can’t correctly bottle- or breast-feed. Imagine instead of watching your toddler experience the joy of sounding out their first words, you see them struggle to speak.
That’s the reality for many parents whose babies are born with cleft lip and/or palate, an opening in the upper lip and/or roof of the mouth that can cause complications with eating and speaking, among other issues.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), an estimated 295,000 babies die each year globally before reaching four weeks due to congenital disorders and associated complications. To help more children in need, on 23 April 2024, Beit-CURE Children’s Hospital of Zambia (CURE Zambia) celebrated the opening of their comprehensive Cleft Care Center—the first of its kind in Zambia and Southern Africa.
“I would like to commend Beit-CURE Children’s Hospital for this initiative and its commitment to partnering with the government to improve healthcare access for children in Zambia as it aligns with government’s National Rehabilitative Service Strategic Plan 2022-2026,” said Dr Godfrey Phiri, Acting Permanent Secretary for Technical Services at Ministry of Health Zambia.
In collaboration with SmileTrain, CURE Zambia is able to provide much-needed comprehensive cleft care to children in the country. To celebrate the milestone, Smile Train’s Southern Africa Regional Director, Sibusisiwe Yona, shared, “In the 12 countries in East and Southern Africa that Smile Train operates, CURE Zambia’s Comprehensive Cleft Centre is the first of its kind. Smile Train is proud to be part of this impactful partnership providing comprehensive cleft care to children in Zambia and remains committed to this cause.”
Transformative Care in Areas with Limited Assistance
Of the 500-800 children born with cleft conditions annually in the country, most live in underserved communities. Parents seeking specialised care for their children born with life-limiting cleft conditions quickly discover that surgical care is scarce and expensive, leaving them facing a lifetime of issues.
Clefts can result in many complications, including difficulty breathing and eating (which can lead to malnutrition), as well as dental problems, ear infections, and permanent hearing and speech disabilities.
Then there is also the social stigma. Children with clefts often face challenges in social interactions due to their appearance and speech difficulties. They are subjected to teasing, bullying, and exclusion, significantly harming their emotional well-being and self-esteem. But CURE Zambia is working diligently to give these kids hope and confidence with a new smile, seeing every patient through the complete healing process.
The centre will be led by the hospital’s first full-time in-house Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Meredith Workman. Her arrival in January 2023 made CURE Zambia only one of two hospitals in the country to provide plastic surgery services. Until now, plastic surgeries were performed at surgical camps by visiting surgeons from the United States. Since Dr. Workman joined CURE, she’s performed over 290 surgeries.
What Does Comprehensive Cleft Care Entail?
Cleft lip and palate are not merely physical conditions; they often come with social, emotional, and psychological burdens that can weigh heavily on patients and their families. Through a comprehensive care approach, CURE Zambia aims to not only correct the physical aspects but also provide support that addresses patients’ multifaceted needs.
With an experienced team of comprehensive cleft care specialists, CURE Zambia houses a state-of-the-art operating room for surgery, while the centre contains spaces for orthodontia and dental care, speech therapy, and counselling—all critical aspects of caring for a child with a cleft condition until they’re completely healed. There is also a dedicated children’s play area and room to teach nutrition support and food preparation to ensure every patient’s diet needs are met.
One child on her way to a happier and healthier future thanks to CURE Zambia’s comprehensive cleft care is Sylvia, who will be treated at the new centre.
When Sylvia first came to CURE Zambia, she struggled to breast-feed because of her cleft lip and palate. Now, after life-changing surgery at CURE, she is able to feed without any challenges!
After receiving cleft care treatment at CURE Zambia, Sylvia has a brand-new smile and renewed hope for the future.
Take a deep dive into this video of Sylvia’s healing progress.
Children and their families receive all medical and ministry care at no cost, thanks to the generous contributions from CURE partners and donors. Here are two things you can do to support CURE Zambia:
Learn more about cleft lip and cleft palate and the work CURE is doing to help kids living with these treatable conditions.
Sponsor surgery for another child living like Sylvia who’s living with cleft lip and/or palate.
About the Beit-CURE Children’s Hospital of Zambia
Established in 2006, CURE Zambia performs over 2,500 life-changing reconstructive, orthopedic, ENT, and audiological surgeries each year for children suffering from treatable disabilities. Strategically located in Lusaka, the teaching hospital comprises six buildings, 54 beds, and three operating theatres. In addition to world-class clinical service, CURE Zambia ministers to the emotional and spiritual needs of patients and their communities. The Beit Trust, a UK-based charity, provided the funding for this facility as a centennial gift to the people of Zambia. CURE Zambia is a strategic partner with the Ministry of Health.
