FIROMSA’S STORY

Firomsa, a six-month-old child, came to Asela Referral and Teaching Hospital to undergo cleft lip surgery through our recent program. Firomsa was born in the Oromia Region, to parents Melka and Simbo Fitala. Being their first child, the family was taken aback when Firomsa was born with a cleft lip as there had never been one in the family before.  Both his father and his mother felt distressed by the situation, causing the mother to often hide her child from the public, to avoid the stigma they were facing as a result of Firomsa’s condition. They brought Firomsa to our Asela programme, accompanied by his father, mother, and grandmother, seeking the necessary treatment for his condition.

Despite numerous visits to hospitals and health centres, Firomsa’s father, Melka, was repeatedly informed that his baby could not undergo cleft lip surgery until he reached six months of age. Determined to find a solution, Melka diligently followed the telegram account of Oromia health centre, which provided vital information about seeking treatment at Asela Hospital. Melka shares that he, along with his mother-in-law and wife, decided to bring Firomsa to the hospital. While Melka personally felt less worried, his wife carried the burden of concern for their first child being born with a cleft lip. The constant scrutiny and comments from people placed significant stress on her. Simbo, Firomsa’s mother, expressed her anger when confronted with questions about her child’s condition and the lack of treatment.

When the family arrived at Asela Referral and Teaching Hospital they felt a sense of hope and were encouraged by the successful outcomes of previous patients. They express their gratitude that they were able to receive free treatment for Firomsa and told us that the surgery would not only change their son’s life, but also bring joy to the whole family. They are excited for Diromsa to experience all things that life has to offer without the burdens that come with a cleft condition, such as stigmatisation and health complications. 

When asked about his experience at Project Harar’s programme, Melka told us that he….

“was very happy with the treatment they received and, the family believes that Project Harar Ethiopia should continue its valuable work, benefiting many more in need.”