This wonderful humanitarian Rotary program could not achieve the impact without Rotary Club support. Is your club looking for a health project that is still operational?

I would like to thank our many Rotary Clubs for their interest and support for the program over the past 16 years of this life-changing project. Your contribution is invaluable. You can be sure that we plan and work hard to make a positive and sustainable impact on the lives of underprivileged children born with a cleft lip or palate in Bangladesh.

The pandemic has meant the last 18 months have been very trying for the Bangladeshi Community. Despite all the challenges, lockdowns, and Covid-19 community fatalities Operation Cleft together with our partner DCKH have completed more than 1,600 life changing surgeries in this last 12 months.

This wonderful humanitarian Rotary program could not achieve the impact without Rotary Club support. For more than 16 years we have reached out to the poorest of the poor in Bangladesh, offering hope and providing services that would not be available without Rotary. The success of this project with more than 15,000 free surgical operations now completed is only possible because Club’s like yours have joined with us to make it possible.

But there is still much to do with more than 5,500 children in Bangladesh born with a cleft lip or palate each year. To plan and manage so many free Operations per year across every area of rural and urban Bangladesh is no easy task. It requires a big annual commitment.

Thank you for helping to transform the lives of these children. Your support means that these children can now participate successfully in school, enjoy good health, attract, and make friends, be accepted in their communities, play team sports and.... Smile.

To help keep you and your Club informed with what’s been happening, please find below our latest Operation Cleft E-Newsletter:

Liza was born with a severe cleft lip and cleft palate in a remote village in Rajshahi, Bangladesh. Her mum and family never heard of cleft lip and palate before she was born. It is amazing to see how they embraced the challenges, even though the entire family was devastated and scared after Liza was born.

While talking to us, Liza’s dad was saying, "Even though my daughter is born with a congenital deformity, my love and affection for her never changed. I knew God had given her to us for a reason"

After three consecutive surgeries, Liza is leading a normal life like other grown-up young girls now. She is about to finish school and is excited to go to college. Her last surgery was on her palate correction, which was operated on in one of our busy surgical camps at Rajshahi.

Her father is excited about when Liza will get married and have a happy life. He and the family would like to forget the fearful past and looking forward to a cheerful future.

Surgical Camp During COVID-19!

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted health systems worldwide, including in low- and middle-income countries like Bangladesh. Cleft lip and palate is a common congenital disease that requires early interdisciplinary attention, and there is uncertainty about the safety of performing its surgical treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of COVID restrictions and patient-surgeon safety, we had to postpone many pre-scheduled surgical camps and limit the usual surgery cap.

This picture was taken on the 16th of August in a surgical camp at Lion Mukhlesur Rahman Children’s Hospital, Chittagong. We have enrolled 19 cleft/palate patients for free surgery. Even though it is quite difficult to maintain COVID rules and social distancing in a such small country as Bangladesh, we hope a safe accomplishment of the surgical camp.

Thanks for your encouragement and support.

Yours Sincerely,

PP Bruce McEwen

Bruce McEwen
P: 0413 144 700
E: bruce.mcewen@ascentor.com.au

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