PROJECT HARAR - RADIO 4 APPEAL 17TH MAY 2O20
Photo: Emabat and her son Abdi, who received surgery for his cleft lip in October
When Abdi was born we were very shocked and I faced stigma from others in my community. We were also not aware of the treatment option for a cleft lip and palate, we are so happy that Abdi is now treated, thank you” – Emabat
We at Project Harar are extremely grateful for everyone who listened to our appeal and reached out to offer support or share their personal experience with children born with cleft lip and palate. Together we managed to raise an incredible £58,085 which has ensured the continuation of our cleft programme in Ethiopia and has enabled us to continue to support the communities in which we work throughout the pandemic.
As put so eloquently by our appeal presenter William Skidelsky: “your support remains vital for the charities that are continuing to work in different areas of health, in challenging financial circumstances.” Covid-19 meant that hundreds of lives have been put on hold for vulnerable children in remote and rural areas of Ethiopia who are waiting for the environment to become safe enough to receive cleft treatment. At the start of October after six months of waiting, we were able to adapt our programme and relaunch mobilisation of children for cleft treatment with strict new coronavirus measures, including Covid testing, mandatory PPE and a dramatically reduced number of patients and guardians travelling for treatment.
These new measures, whilst entirely necessary, mean that the time from which a child is identified by a programme officer to receiving treatment is much longer. Consequently we have adapted our outreach programme to provide practical Covid response such as water barrels and soap for hand washing, PPE and nutritional support. Together we can help to keep these children safe and healthy until the time comes for them to receive treatment.
Your support has not only ensured a child will receive life changing treatment for a cleft lip or palate, but also kept them safe during this global health crisis so their parents can look forward to a better socially integrated future for their children.
“My wife and I lost our first born child at one month old, when our second child, Fayisa, was born with a cleft lip and palate, we were deeply sad and didn’t consider that he would ever survive. Now Fayisa has been treated we feel so happy and blessed.”
– Fikirt, father of Fayisa
You can find out more about our charity.
Please click on to watch a film about our cleft programme.