It is an undisputed
fact that reconstructive surgery improves the lives of patients in
indescribable ways, but the story often does not end there.
For
example, repairing a cleft lip will help improve appearance, diminish stigma
and thus, lead to a brighter future. However, if surgery to repair a
cleft lip or palate is not performed in infancy---a too common occurrence in
developing countries where access to care is limited, especially for those who
are impoverished---then that child probably needs to relearn how to eat and
speak in order to be able to fully participate in school, work and to be part
of his/her community.
All children whose
lips and palates have been repaired deserve an opportunity to receive post-op
care in orthodontics and speech to be able to live healthy and productive
lives. A full comprehensive care model, which includes speech therapy and
orthodontics, allows children to receive the full benefit of their cleft
repairs.
In Nepal, Interplast surgeons Dr. Shankar Rai, and Dr. Kiran Nakarmi travel
with their team of interdisciplinary caregivers to remote villages in this
mountainous country plagued by poverty. They hold 10-14 week-long “speech
camps” around the country, where they are able to deliver follow-up care
consisting of speech therapy, dental hygiene, counseling, and follow-up
surgical evaluation to dozens of children and their families at one time. (The
photo is from one of their speech camps; Prava, a speech assistant, is
giving articulation therapy in the presence of the child’s parent so that
therapy can continue at home.)
Close to 3,500
children have benefited from the program thus far. Now, thanks to the
generosity of the Smile Train, many more cleft patients in Nepal and other
countries where we work will receive the comprehensive care they need. We
are very grateful for their partnership in providing continuing care to our
patients.
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