Cleft lip treatment boosts child confidence 

Talent's cleft lip is being treated with help from Plan Zimbabwe

27 October: Sisters Talent, aged 9, and Chipo, aged 4, from Chipinge, Zimbabwe, have suffered with their cleft lips for years. But now they are facing the future with confidence, thanks to Plan.

Cleft lip is a birth defect in which the lip is not completely formed. While the girls' family accepted their condition, the community’s attitude was taking its toll on the children who showed signs of losing self confidence.

Whereas Talent’s friends accepted her at school, Chipo felt uncomfortable to play with others for fear of being laughed at. She shuns herself from others and clasps her mouth when in public.

Plan assistance

Plan identified these children during home visits to sponsored children and immediately arranged for them to undergo surgery to correct their condition.

Peter Nyamhindu, Plan’s Community Development Facilitator for the area, said the children would further require specialist assistance for them to gain self confidence.

“There is need to alert child counselling groups to help these children to rediscover their confidence. When talking to them, they still struggle to bring out certain words, making it imperative to engage a speech therapist,” he said.

Surgical operation

Plan is working closely with the local clinic to expedite the surgery operations.

The children are scheduled to undergo a surgery operation at Harare Hospital in November 2008. A team of doctors from America will perform the operation. 

Reaching more children

Ever since the plight of Talent and Chipo came to light, other children with similar conditions are coming out, confirming the power of home visits by Plan staff in the area.

Cleft lips are correctable through surgery and are believed to be caused by rare genetic and environmental factors. Parents may pass on genes that cause facial deformities.

Children with cleft lips encounter difficulties which include dental care and tooth development problems,  as well as speech impairment. They also face psychological challenges including social, emotional and behavioural problems, due to differences in appearance and family stress.

Chipo and Talent are extremely excited that their cleft lips will be corrected and are looking forward to their treatment.