Title: Repairing cleft lip surgery: a gesture of hope offered by Samaritan’s Purse and Bunia Hospital
Introduction :
Cleft lip malformation, more commonly known as cleft lip, is a medical condition that can greatly affect a person’s quality of life. These facial malformations often lead to eating difficulties and psychosocial problems. However, thanks to a joint initiative of the NGO Samaritan’s Purse and the General Reference Hospital of Bunia in Ituri, more than seventy people were able to receive free reconstructive surgery. This campaign aims to help poor individuals who cannot afford the high costs of these operations. A look back at this great initiative that gives hope to people with cleft lips.
Hare beak: a malformation with multiple consequences:
Cleft lip is a birth defect characterized by a crack in the upper lip, palate, or both. This malformation can range in severity from a mild cleft to a larger fissure that affects the nose and gums. In addition to the aesthetic problems it causes, this condition can cause difficulty in eating, speaking and breathing. Additionally, people with cleft lip may face prejudice and social stigma, which impacts their psychological well-being.
A free repair campaign for the poor:
Samaritan’s Purse and the Bunia General Reference Hospital have joined forces to organize a corrective cleft lip surgery campaign. The goal of this initiative is to help poor people who cannot afford the medical costs associated with these costly operations. Thanks to the generosity of these organizations, more than seventy people, mainly children, were able to benefit from the surgeries necessary to repair their cleft lips. This campaign has brought smiles back to these individuals and significantly improved their quality of life.
Moving testimony from a beneficiary parent:
Ezéchiel Ngoie, parent of a one-and-a-half-year-old girl with harelip, testifies to the joy found in his family thanks to this surgery: “The child was born with a malformation. We were almost ashamed when people came to visit us. Thanks to this operation, the child has fun and eats normally, and joy has returned to our family.” This testimonial highlights the positive impact this campaign can have on the lives of families affected by cleft lip.
A gesture of hope for the future:
Among those operated on, some had to take extreme measures, such as moving their children away to villages to protect them from teasing and discrimination in urban settings. This free repair campaign offers real hope for these destitute families, allowing them to access essential medical care for their children. In addition, it also raises public awareness of the issue of cleft lip and helps reduce the stigma associated with this condition.
Conclusion :
The cleft lip repair campaign led by Samaritan’s Purse and Bunia Hospital in Ituri has been a real breath of hope for people affected by this malformation. Thanks to the generosity of these organizations, more than seventy people have been able to benefit from free reconstructive surgeries, thus giving them back their smiles and improving their quality of life