Aiming to bring back smiles, non-governmental organization (NGO) Alliance for Smiles (AFS) recently partnered with the Rotary Club of Makati to help underprivileged patients with cleft lip and palate in the country.

Cleft lip and cleft palate are openings or splits on the upper lip, the roof of the mouth (palate) or both which are caused when facial structures don’t close completely during the development period of an unborn baby.

Its roots remain unknown but can be healed through corrective surgery.

Anita Stangl, president and co-founder of AFS, said there is a need for the early correction of these cases, as prolonging medication poses more risk for the patient. She added that healthy infants weighing 10 pounds and are as young as 10 weeks old may undergo operation.

Aside from the physical defects, Stangl said the emotional trauma brought by bullying and social isolation can psychologically scar individuals with uncorrected cleft conditions.

Cleft lip and cleft palate are not unusual though. Mayo Clinic describes it as one of the most common birth defects in the world affecting 1.94 out of 1,000 children.

FROM left: Ramy Garcia, senior assistant governor Rotary International District 3800, Reggie Gervacio, president Rotary Club of Makati GEMS District 3830, Anita Stangl, CEO China Operations and special advisor and founder of Alliance for Smiles and Mary Liu, mission director and GoGo Smile ambassador.

Numerous organizations aiming to help individuals with such condition exist but patients needing help remain huge. This is mainly because the condition needs to be dealt with on a case to case basis depending on the extremity of the status of a patient.

One may need only a single operation while others may require two to four.

This is how AFS differs from other groups. Its philosophy lies on long-term help, which is how the idea was born to set up treatment centers in the country where they can do their missions.

The treatment center is where patients can go if they are required to do more surgeries or to have follow-up checkups or operations.

There is still no such facility in the country but Stangl revealed that Rotary District 3800 president Raffy Garcia is constructing a hospital where an area for patients with cleft lip and palate will be set up.

In the meantime, AFS will conduct its medical mission at Rizal Medical Center. It will run until 12 October.

The mission targets a total of eight surgeries and 40 patients.

Last 30 September patients were assessed to determine if they are fit for operation. If not, AFS said it will keep them in contact and a testing rescheduled once they come back to the country.

AFS also encourages individuals outside Manila to seek their help by connecting with the respective Rotary Clubs in their provinces.

Established on 2004, AFS has changed over 5,000 lives with its free corrective surgeries. It has staged medical missions around the world including China, Nigeria, Myanmar and Bangladesh.