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Cleft Infant Nutrition Program

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Program Overview

The Child Nutrition Program specialized in Cleft Lip and Palate is specifically designed for children with these conditions.

Due to their condition, it is common for these children to be unable to breastfeed and for their parents to lack access to the necessary nutritional supplements. As a result, these children may experience varying degrees of malnutrition and may not be in a suitable condition to undergo the surgery they need to correct their condition.

The goal is to bring these children to a good overall health state to ensure they are ready for surgery.

Health Promoters visit each enrolled patient in this program at least once a month to provide them with formula, demonstrate effective usage, and monitor their proper growth. This process lasts on average for one year. When the time for surgery comes, the Health Promoter accompanies the patient and a family member to provide interpretation services and emotional support.

What is Cleft Lip/Palate?

According to CDC.gov, a “cleft lip and cleft palate are congenital disabilities that occur when a baby’s lip or mouth do not form properly during pregnancy. Together, these congenital disabilities commonly are called “orofacial clefts.” A cleft lip indicates an indentation in the upper lip and can continue to the nose, depending on the severity of the case. A Cleft palate, a more severe condition, refers to a gap between the two skull plates that form the hard palate or roof of the mouth.

This condition can be easily treated in developed countries. But in rural Guatemala, with no access to the proper medical care, or financial resources, many children suffer from frequent respiratory infections, have trouble speaking, have hearing problems, and will have severe feeding problems leading them to malnutrition and starvation. Unfortunately, many will not be accepted into their communities, and their families will often be stigmatized.

Did you know that in Guatemala, 1 out of every 10 people has a physical disability or a condition that can often be surgically cured? Cleft lip and palate, affect 1 in every 700 newborns worldwide, and represent the third most common congenital malformation in Guatemalan hospitals, accounting for 15% of all congenital anomalies.

In Guatemala, 49.8% of children suffer from chronic malnutrition, meaning 1 in every 2 children. Children with cleft lip and palate face significant challenges, especially regarding nutrition. They have a 2.5 times higher risk of mortality due to malnutrition compared to children without this condition. In a country leading global statistics on chronic child malnutrition, this is a critical issue.

Proper nutrition in the first 1,000 days of life is essential for brain development and overall health in children. During this period, a baby’s brain can create 1,000 new neural connections per second, and by age two, they have reached 75% of the adult brain size. However, many children lack the conditions to obtain the nutrients they need.

Key Aspects of the Cleft Infant Nutrition Program

Early Detection

Our patients are referred by health personnel from Area Directorates, Hospitals, Health Centers, and midwives. This process is possible due to their awareness of the care and health services we provide to patients and their families.

Monthly Home Visits

All patients registered in our program receive personalized care through our network of local health promoters. These promoters provide patient and family care in their local language and in a culturally relevant manner. During each visit, the promoters weigh and measure the children to monitor their growth and ensure they are gaining the appropriate weight for their age, following WHO standards.

Nutritional Support

Monthly, our children receive nutritional supplements such as infant formula stage 1 and stage 2, and Incaparina. They are also provided with special bottles and nipples, and breast pumps for mothers when breastfeeding is possible. Additionally, the promoters conduct educational sessions with parents about health, nutrition, and hygiene to empower them with knowledge and promote the well-being of their families.

Surgery and Post-Operative Follow-Up

When the child reaches optimal nutritional and health status, our team arranges surgery with professional volunteer doctors. The promoters accompany the patients from their community to Antigua Guatemala and stay with them during the twelve-day surgery event. After the operation, the promoters conduct monthly home visits to the patients for at least 18 months to check their health and post-operative recovery.

How can you help?

Through our programs, tens of thousands of
Guatemalan men, women, and children have
received medical attention and health
education. This is only possible thanks to the
generosity of our donors and volunteers.
Every bit counts for our patients!