YORDANOS’ STORY
Yordanos who is a 2 years and nine months old, came to Tibebe Ghion hospital, Bahir Dar, with his mother and his father from West Gojjam, to receive surgery for his cleft palate.
Yordanos before his cleft palate surgery
Yordanos' mother shared her concerns about her son's cleft condition, expressing worries that it might have been her fault. “Sometimes, I wonder if there is something wrong that I did that could have caused this. Sometimes I think it was the family planning contraceptives I used before conceiving this baby that caused this problem. I don’t use them anymore now”. Mothers often report to us feelings of guilt or responsibility surrounding their child’s condition, there is lots of misinformation in Ethiopia about the causes of a cleft lip and palate. To address these concerns and provide accurate information, Project Harar has implemented awareness-raising schemes. The aim is to educate communities and reassure mothers that they are not to blame for their child being born with a cleft condition. By dispelling myths and misconceptions, the organization seeks to alleviate the burden of guilt and foster a supportive environment for affected families.
Yordanos after his surgery
Yordanos' mother also emphasised the crucial role her family played in helping her through the difficult times and making her feel less isolated. “My family used to encourage me; they used to call me and assured me that all will be well with the child. They would even bring me stuff and that made me happy. My sister used to come to our home and we would encourage each other. That kind of support made me forget all.” This strong support network played a pivotal role in helping her cope with the challenges associated with her child's cleft diagnosis.
This highlights the importance of educating people about cleft conditions so that they can provide comfort and support instead of perpetuating misinformation that might ostracize affected families. By promoting understanding and awareness, communities can come together to create an inclusive environment where families facing a cleft diagnosis feel supported rather than stigmatised.
“I am very pleased with the treatment/surgery done to my child as well as the psychological treatment given to us in this hospital compound. The child has no health problems after surgery. I want to thank all who helped us during our stay in this hospital on different issues.”