Project | CLEFT LIP & PALATE (CLIPP) PROJECT, TEMERLOH, PAHANG |
Objectives | To support the medical needs of the people of Pahang and the Ministry of Health Malaysia. |
Project Partners | - |
Activities | Conducted a cleft surgeon in the state of Pahang. |
Locations | Temerloh |
Period | 2009 |
Accomplishments | With 2 surgical volunteer teams operating concurrently in one day, a total of 6 patients were operated on, consisting of 4 cleft lip cases & 2 cleft palate cases. |
BACKGROUND
Currently in Malaysia, the occurrence of clefts is about one in 700 newborns. The risk of a child having a cleft is about 25% if either of the parents or sibling of the child has it, or there is a history of cleft lip in the family, and the likelihood increase to 50% if both parents have clefts. 30% of people with cleft lip or palate cases have a relative born with a similar condition.
There was a temporary need in the state of Pahang for a cleft surgeon, where cases were referred to neighboring states having the relevant facilities. This gap was addressed by the Ministry of Health by posting a surgeon trained in cleft surgery.