Children who live in remote areas of Ethiopia already experience food insecurities due to environmental, social and economic factors, these difficulties are heightened for those with cleft lip and palate. Project Harar plans to provide access to life changing surgeries and help end stigma surrounding cleft lip and palate.
Cleft lip and palate can have dangerous impacts on child development if they are left untreated. Children born with cleft conditions often struggle to suckle and are prone to choking, making breast feeding very difficult. Which can lead to them becoming dangerously malnourished. Social stigma surrounding facial differences results in many children being hid away and ostracized from the community. Hindering their chances of getting an education and being an active member of society.
We work with local and regional health facilities to identify those who need cleft treatment. We provide safe transport, food and accommodation, on a journey that can span over two days, to and from a partner hospital, so that a child can receive an operation from an Ethiopian surgeon. If a child is undernourished and not strong enough, we provide nutritional support to help them gain the strength they require in order to come back for surgery.
Helping children on their smile journey, enabling babies to breastfeed and stopping them from experiencing other developmental barriers. Ensuring all children are given the same opportunities, access to education and a chance at being active members of the community with a happy and hopeful future. Helping to reduce stigma surrounding cleft conditions will help those in the future with similar conditions.
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