Cleft Care

Helping Children With Cleft Lip and Palate in Indonesia
by: Evy Indriani Vyati., DDS., OMFS

Have you ever seen a child with a cleft lip or cleft palate? It can happen to anyone although the reason is more complex.  These children will never eat or speak properly, and many will go through their entire life without ever being able to smile, go to school, or even hold on a job.  

The greatest tragedy is that all of these children are suffering not because they were born with a cleft, but because they were born poor. Too poor to pay for a simple procedure that can change their whole lives.Every year in Indonesia there are about 10000  babies born with this kind of anomalies. You can help give them a smile by giving them a hand and a piece of your heart. It is the most rewarding and satisfying feeling to know that you have helped in creating that brilliant smile that was hidden before. May God Bless You for your kindness

PROPOSAL FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN BY THE FOUNDATIONFOR THE CARE OF CLEFT LIP AND CLEFT PALATE PATIENTS (YPPCBL)BANDUNG 

 

I. BACKGROUND

The foundation for the Care of Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate patients (YPPCBL) is a non profit social organization that functions in the socio-medical area by providing surgeries, medical services and social rehabilitation for cleft lip and cleft palate patients. The aim is to reduce the physical and social problems that arise as a consequence of these handicaps. From year to year the number of patients who submitted requests for assistance from YPPCBL has increased steadily. From the time when the Foundation was established in 1979 to date, it helped more than seven thousand financially disadvantaged patients with cleft lip and cleft palate anomalies who could not afford to pay for treatment.

Our patients are in fact only a very small portion of the total number of people having these anomalies. There are still many families who are reluctant to bring family members with cleft lips and cleft palates for treatment because they feel that these handicaps are a reason for shame or because they do not know that such patients can be helped through surgery. Another factor is the unaffordable high cost of operations, especially now, when the cost of all medical treatments has risen substantially. Money is of course a big limiting factor for our activities.

Every month the YPPCBL office in Bandung receives between 30-35 direct requests from the parents of prospective patients. In addition we serve requests from  outside the city of Bandung. We hope, your organization will be able to help us with funds so that we can continue our social efforts.

 

II. PURPOSE AND AIM

To provide services in the form of surgery and care for poor cleft lip and cleft palate patients we also help.

1.      To overcome or at least reduce the side effects of cleft lip and cleft palate anomalies. (malnutrition, bronchitis, bronchio-pneumonia, ear infections and speech and mental disturbance).

2.      To increase the self-confidence in patients and their families so that they can live a normal life.

III. YPPCBL’S WORK PROGRAM

Aside from surgeries, we provide :

1.      Management of cleft lip and cleft palate patients (examination, pre-operation, nursing care, surgery and post operation nursing care)

2.      Evaluation of post operation patients by the full (multi-disciplinary) medical team.

3.      Speech therapy for patients with speech difficulties.

4.      Dental health services.

5.      The activation’s of learning groups for kindergarten age children for the purpose of teaching them how to recognize objects, people and the world around them and to assist these children in the development of their hearing, speech, movements, learning capabilities and behavior.

 IV. TARGET GROUPS

Cleft lip and cleft palate patients’ age 3 month to 18 years, who cannot afford to pay for treatment. Cleft lip and cleft palate patients who have already undergone an operation but who need further corrective surgery to improve their speech function and appearance.

  V. INSTITUTIONS THAT PROVIDE SUPPORT

§         The foundation for the care of cleft lip and cleft palate patients (YPPCBL)

§         The faculty of Dentistry, Padjajaran University, Bandung

§         “Dr. Hasan Sadikin” Hospital, Bandung

§         St. Borromeus Hospital, Bandung

§         Immanuel Hospital, Bandung

§         “Dr. Salamun” Air Force Hospital, Bandung

§         Kebonjati Hospital, Bandung

§         Cengkareng Hospital, JAKARTA

§         District level Hospitals throughout out West Java

§         The Provincial Office of the Department of Social Affairs, West Java

§         The Provincial Health Service for West Java

§         The West Java Health Service at the District level

§         The Indonesian Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons Association

§         Private donors and private and government agencies.

 VI. TARGET

The target of the current activity is to operate on 50 cleft lip and cleft palate patients every month. We expect to help 600 patients this year (2004).

VII. FUNDS NEEDED

The money needed for each patient is about 2.500.000 ($ 300), depending on the extent of the seriousness of the case, the medication and in hospital nursing care required. Thus an average sum of around Rp. 2.250.000 ($ 280) is needed for one patient. Details of approximate per item costs are as follow:

1.      Laboratorium                                                                                  Rp.       145.000,-

2.      Thorax photo                                                                                  Rp.         35.000,-

3.      Obturator                                                                                       Rp.      100.000,-

4.      Drugs & equipment                                                                         Rp.      700.000,-

5.      Surgical suture                                                                                Rp.      300.000,-

6.      In hospital stay and Operating room and Anesthesi                          Rp.       650.000,-

7.      Sedation                                                                                         Rp.       100.000,-

8.      Pre and post operation treatment                                                     Rp.      120.000,-

9.      Administration and overhead                                                           Rp.      100.000,-

Total    Rp.    2.250.000,-

The amount of money needed each month to treat 50 patients is thus Rp. 112.500.000,-  ($ 15.000). Non-patient direct expenses are about 6% of this number.

VIII. SOURCES OF FUNDS

It is in this connection that we are presenting this proposal for financial assistance to prospective government and private donors, both as groups and as individuals, as your good selves.

We hope that your help will be forthcoming. Needy cleft lip and cleft palate patients are anxiously awaiting your generosity.

IX. CONCLUSION

The proposal that we have put forward here in has been prepared in accordance with our plans and hopes. We trust that the concept of undertaking a humanitarian activity will yield good and beneficial results. How wonderful would it be if in this life we could do a good deed of some kind for our fellow human being, who needs someone to extend a helping hand. We will not just donate money but we will restore the dignity and social capability of a fellow human being.

 

We are convinced that with help and concern shown by all parties, this activity will continue to run smoothly and to yield benefits not only for patients and their families but also for those who show generosity. For all donations and for the support of all donors, we wish to express our sincere thanks. We hope and pray that Almighty God will grant His blessing and favor to all of us and to the success of our activities

 

If you ned further information, please contact :

YPPCBL

jl. Sekeloa Selatan no 1

Bandung-Indonesia

Phone : 62-22-2533081

or email : yppcbl@elga.net.id