Provide safe access to 25 cleft surgeries

Beleste came to our programme at Gamby hospital this July with his parents who are both farmers in Amhara. Beleste is seven months old and is the fourth child of his parents but the first in the family with a cleft condition. Gamby hospital is around 280km from Beleste’s home, but stigma towards the family made this journey necessary for the family’s wellbeing.

His mother explained to us;

“One of the most frustrating challenges for me was feeding my baby. My baby kept on crying, and I could not help him. This situation was incredibly stressful, and I had to consider how my child would be able to get enough food. He used to cry a lot and this made me so upset.”

Beleste’s mother also expressed the loneliness and isolation that she and her family experienced because of the stigma surrounding her son’s condition.

‘I don’t like the way people gossip about my baby. They do not say the things when we are together, but they talk behind our backs. They believe that the baby’s condition is God’s punishment to my family. These misconceptions are so damaging.’

Beleste’s mother went on to explain that people from her community distanced themselves from her because of Beleste’s condition. She stopped participating in social life and community gatherings.

‘Project Harar solved our distress and now we are happy. This free service has changed my son’s life. I am so happy with this treatment. It has liberated out family from stigma and discrimination in the community. Overall, I am very excited and very grateful for the treatment given to my child. A beautiful service.’

Fekadu, a seven-month-old boy with a cleft lip, came to receive treatment at our recent programme at Gamby General Hospital Bahir Dar. Fekadu is an only child and is therefore the first in his family with a cleft condition. Fekadu’s mother shared with us that as soon as Fekadu was born, she sought treatment for his cleft condition, but their health extension worker advised her that babies under six months old are not eligible for cleft surgery.

Now that Fekadu is older than seven months, his parents sought treatment again and heard about the programme, bringing him in for the surgery this July. Fekadu’s father told us, ‘Upon our arrival, we promptly registered Fekadu, and he underwent a blood test before proceeding with the surgery.’

Fekadu’s mother expressed her deep appreciation for the charity and described the treatment as a beautiful service ensuring that her child received exceptional care. She also shared with us her past experiences of anger and societal scrutiny when people looked at her baby and commented on his condition. She recalled the social impact and feelings of isolation that she experienced within the local community, highlighting the emotional toll it took on her and her husband.

Furthermore, his mother expressed immense gratitude stating that ‘Project Harar has helped us receive all the necessary treatment and I am truly unable to put into words how happy I am. Thanks to Project Harar, my concerns and problems were addressed bringing me happiness and gratitude for the service that Fekadu received. I encourage the founders and staff of Project Harar Ethiopia to continue their hard work. I hope that more individuals will seek this treatment and be met with the same experience as Fekadu has been. I have been so lucky with the way things have turned out. So, I consider my child as very fortunate compared to others living with an untreated cleft condition.’

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