Cleft lip & palate month: July

July 5, 2023

July is Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month.

Cleft lip and cleft palate happen when a baby’s lip or mouth doesn’t form completely during pregnancy. A cleft lip refers to a gap in the upper lip of a newborn, while a cleft palate is a gap in the roof of the mouth. These are congenital abnormalities. Children that survive birth defects can suffer long-term disability, with consequences for themselves, their families, and the health care system. Poverty in Cambodia plays a role in rejecting children born with disabilities. By collaborating as a team, a surgeon, orthodontist, speech or hearing specialist, and parents can help ensure that a child looks, speaks, and behaves like other children. CSC is proud to partner in this endeavor with support from www.smiletrain.org to correct cleft lips and palates. In 2022, our skilled surgeons successfully carried out more than 100 cleft surgeries for underprivileged children. Your generous contribution towards CSC can make a significant difference in saving a child's life. Please consider making a donation to support our essential work.

Author: Ellen Interlandi

Ellen, a registered nurse, and her husband Brian, an anesthesiologist, have been active volunteers at CSC since 2008. Ellen has undergraduate degrees in both Nursing and Spanish Literature, and a graduate degree in Health Management. Since 2020, Ellen has volunteered in the role of Stakeholder Relations, connecting with our generous supporters, interacting with visiting surgeons and students, and disseminating updates on Children's Surgical Centre.