Why Ghana's cleft care center is game changer for Africa

A view of the cleft operation room after the launch of Ghana's National Cleft Care Center. [Courtesy, Smile Train]

When a child is born with a cleft lip or palate, the question too often isn't how quickly can they get care - but whether they will ever get it. These children and their families face immense challenges. Cleft-affected children struggle with feeding, breathing, speaking, and social isolation. Families confront harmful stigma and, in the most tragic cases, the loss of a child to malnutrition before their first birthday.

It does not have to be this way.