AFRICA - For some 10,000 children development and survival threatened by congenital malformation

Friday, 31 July 2015

Maputo (Agenzia Fides) – Every year in east African countries about 10,000 children are born with harelip and-or malformation of the palate, congenital malformations which threaten proper development. According to the NGO African Medical and Research Foundation, this malformation, noticed during pregnancy, is associated with genetic factors. Babies have difficulty eating and drinking, with speech, hearing and correct breathing, and the condition is generally seen as a taboo or punishment for bad deeds committed by some relation in the past. Very often the affected babies are hidden or abandoned or even killed. Similar malformation can also cause difficulties with breast feeding and consequent difficulty of survival and balanced growth. To prevent these problems from interfering with development, the babies need surgery in the first months of life, within the two first years. Only surgery will enable the child to speak, hear and feed normally. Sad to say the majority of babies in Africa suffering from this condition have no access to surgery which lasts just 45 minutes. (AP) (31/7/2015 Agenzia Fides)


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