You’re Listening to Caring for Cleft

How can we ensure that children with cleft have access to the care they deserve, worldwide? Listen to the conversations and stories that are moving the dial on Comprehensive Cleft Care.

Innovators in Action: Speech and Surgery Collaboration in Ethiopia and Tanzania, Ep #11

Comprehensive Cleft Care professionals in Africa are innovators. Traditional volunteer/ mission models are being replaced – new systems are required. With skilled local surgeons in place, addressing the need for speech therapy in cleft patients is an important challenge. A new generation of teams embrace it!

In pt.1 of this 2. pt series, we hear from 4 inspiring young professionals from Ethiopia & Tanzania—2 surgeons and 2 speech therapists - who are transforming cleft care in East Africa. What led them to specialize in cleft? What motivates their commitment to pursue team-based care?

Your Host: Hugh Brewster
Guests: Surgeons Dr. Getaw Alamne & Dr. Francis Tegete, Speech Therapists Wedise Mekonnen & Adam Mang’ombe
Producers: Kristian Wykes & Danaka Robertson

Building Momentum for Cleft Psychosocial Care: Bolivia & the UK, Ep #10

Will my child be supported and accepted in our family? At school? In the community?

Beyond the immediate medical concerns of feeding and safe surgery, parents with a cleft-affected child worry about the long-term social, emotional and psychological implications of the condition.

This episode explores the role of psychosocial support within a Comprehensive Cleft Care approach. We speak with Dr. Nicola Stock, who highlights learning from the UK experience, and draw from Julieta Villca Guzman’s insights about integrating cleft psychosocial support in Cochabamba, Bolivia.

Your Host: Hugh Brewster
Guests: Julieta Villca Guzman & Dr. Nicola Stock
Producers: Kristian Wykes & Danaka Robertson

The Madagascar Mission: A New Model of Care, Ep #9

Historically, cleft in Madagascar was treated by foreign volunteers via a fly-in-fly-out surgical model. An infant with a cold during the “mission” dates may be excluded from surgery for a year or more! Clinique Santé Plus, in partnership with Transforming Faces and USA-based NGO Smile Train, has built the first CCC centre in Antsirabe, Madagascar and is working to inspire change nationally.

In this episode, we discuss the first Comprehensive Cleft Care centre in Madagascar, the challenges the CCC team has faced in changing perceptions of local, ongoing care, and the hopes and dreams for cleft care in Madagascar.

Your Host: Hugh Brewster
Guests: Dr. Nirina Mandrano, Dr. Benjamina Rakotoson, Seheno, Kezzy, and Mikael (Santé Plus)
Producers: Kristian Wykes & Danaka Robertson