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Cleft lip/ palate

What is cleft lip / palate?
Cleft lip and palate are birth defects that affect the upper lip and the roof of the mouth. A cleft lip is an opening or gap in the upper lip, often connected to the nostril. A cleft palate is an opening in the roof of the mouth connected with the canal of the nose. Apart from the cosmetic appearance, cleft lip / palate results in problems with feeding and speech.

What causes cleft lip/ palate?
In most cases the cause of the birth defect is not known.

What cures cleft lip/ palate?
Cleft lip / palate can be closed by surgery. Cleft lip surgery should be done when the child is aged between 4 and 6 months and about 18 months for the palate.
Most children with a cleft lip and palate can achieve normal appearance, speech, and eating through surgery. However, some people may have continued speech problems.
Neglect of doing surgery may result in malnutrition of the child and even child death due to difficulties in feeding of the child.

What prevents cleft lip/palate?
There is no prevention for cleft lip / palate.

what´s happening

An exciting first quarter at CCBRT shows that 2012 is going to be a successful year for the organisation
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CCBRT seeks the services of an NBAA registered internal audit firm to provide monthly services across all its activities
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Kaspar Mmuya, from CCBRT's fistula department, urges ambassadors to identify and refer more women living with fistula at a conference on 16 March 57 Ambassadors gathered at CCBRT on Friday to learn more about referring women with fistula and others in need of treatment
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personal stories

Wednesday, 2010-06-02 13:32

It is late afternoon as I approach the playground at CCBRT Disability Hospital in Tanzania. I see...

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CCBRT statistics In February we:
  • carried out 24 fistula surgeries
  • performed 683 eye surgeries 
  • performed 36 cleft lip surgeries
  • saw 365 patients for physiotherapy
  • made 179 assistive deveices

changing lives

Three year Idrissa was born with a cleft lip. Laughed at by other children, his dignity and smile have been restored by a simple operation and his parents are now confident that their son can start school with all the other children.