Help Children Born with Cleft in Guayaquil, EC

During our recent two-week outreach program in Guayaquil, Ecuador, your support made it possible for our volunteer teams to bring healthier smiles and hope to children and families affected by cleft lip and palate.

Our dedicated team of volunteer medical professionals provided life-changing surgeries, dental procedures, and holistic care aimed at ensuring the long-term health and development of our patients. With your help, we were able to provide a wide range of life-changing care:

• 231 patients were screened, ensuring that each child received a tailored care plan.

• 75 individuals underwent 188 surgical and dental procedures under general anesthesia as part of essential reconstructive surgery

• Our psychosocial team provided 152 consults for 76 patients, addressing emotional wellbeing, and helping families navigate their child’s journey.

• 75 nutrition and feeding consults ensured that patients received guidance for proper nourishment, critical for healing and growth.

• 79 speech therapy sessions helped children improve communication skills, crucial for social integration and development.

• 96 patients benefited from 152 dental procedures, setting the foundation for lifelong oral health.

• 128 dental hygiene kits were distributed, empowering families with to maintain oral care at home.

None of this care would have been possible without generosity from our volunteers, in-country partners, and donors like you.

Your support made every surgery, every smile, and every brighter future possible. Thank you for being an essential part of this transformative journey and for continuing to help us create healthier tomorrows for children in need.

Links:

• Ecuador program information
• See other GSF patient transformations
• Learn about the impact of cleft care

Thank you for supporting our March 2024 outreach medical program in Ecuador!

With your help, our team was able to provide surgery for 69 patients, with a total of 228 procedures performed. We provide comprehensive care, so our patients receive individualized care across the full range of cleft specialties. In March, this included:

• 228 Surgical and dental procedures under general anesthesia for 69 patients
• 74 Nutrition and feeding consults for 62 patients
• 50 Speech therapy consults
• 136 Psychosocial consults for 68 patients
• 239 Dental procedures for 110 patients

Our international team of volunteer dental specialists provided surgery to several patients who needed tooth extractions. Children born with cleft are at a greater risk of developing carries and often have missing or misaligned teeth. Oral health is extremely important for anyone’s overall health, and a particular concern for our patients. Our team also provided preventive oral hygiene during the program.

Several team members conducted educational symposiums and surgical training programs at La Universidad Espíritu Santo (UEES) as part of GSF’s efforts to empower Ecuadorian plastic surgeons and support healthcare in underserved communities. Topics included global health and innovative surgical techniques to address cleft.

The full GSF and Fundación Global Smile Ecuador teams consisted of 56 international and 83 Ecuadorian volunteers, who provided high-quality integrated cleft care to our patients and families. Our Ecuador-based team also provides essential support to ensure that our program runs smoothly.

Our next program will take place this September!  Stay tuned for updates.

Links:

• More