Advocacy Event "Smiles for Ukraine: Creating a Healthier World Together" to Address the Treatment of Children with Clefts
Kyiv, Ukraine (October 29, 2024)- This morning, the public organization, “Ukrainian Smile” hosted an advocacy event at the State Information Agency of Ukraine, Ukrinform, to raise awareness about the achievements and challenges in treating cleft-affected children in Ukraine.
The event will feature prominent representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), the world’s largest cleft-focused nonprofit, Smile Train, the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, the National Health Service of Ukraine, the leadership and specialists of the National Specialized Children's Hospital "Ohmatdyt," as well as other medical institutions treating patients with clefts, researchers in the field of cleft treatment, representatives of the Health Cluster, charitable organizations, and families impacted by cleft.
"This event will highlight the importance of collaboration between local and international organizations to enhance the care provided to children with clefts," said Dr. Natalia Tetrueva, Leading Maxillofacial Surgeon of the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Microsurgery at Ohmatdyt. "By sharing knowledge and resources, we can ensure that every child receives the best possible treatment."
Globally, approximately 1 in 700 newborns worldwide are born with a cleft lip and/or cleft palate, a condition that not only impacts physical health but also affects a child’s socialization, educational opportunities, and integration into society. Cleft is one of the most common birth differences, ranking 4th in frequency (after congenital heart defects, neural tube defects, and Down syndrome). However, children with this condition can be successfully treated. Despite ongoing challenges posed by wartime conditions in Ukraine, including human resource shortages and infrastructure challenges (due to shelling, power outages, etc.), medical professionals continue to deliver vital treatment and rehabilitation services for patients with clefts.
A key focus of the event will be the presentation of the results from a summer speech therapy camp organized by Ohmatdyt and the NGO "Ukrainian Smile," with support from Smile Train. This camp provided crucial speech therapy and psychological rehabilitation sessions, along with artistic workshops as part of the Art Impact for Health initiative. The positive effects on the children’s emotional and psychological well-being have contributed to better treatment outcomes.
Smiles for Ukraine: Creating a Healthier World Together will emphasize the need for a multidisciplinary approach to cleft treatment, bringing together speech therapists, psychologists, orthodontists, and surgeons to optimize care.
“Training specialists to work effectively with these children is essential to improving treatment results,” said Dr. Tetrueva. “As Ukraine continues its path towards European integration, aligning its healthcare standards with European norms is vital. The development and approval of a national treatment protocol for clefts is a crucial step toward standardizing care and ensuring high-quality medical support for affected children."
The "Smiles for Ukraine: Creating a Healthier World Together" advocacy event aims to elevate the national priority of treating children with cleft lip and palate and to foster increased awareness and collaboration in the healthcare sector.
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About Smile Train
Smile Train empowers local medical professionals with training, funding, and resources to provide free cleft surgery and comprehensive cleft care to children globally. We advance a sustainable solution and scalable global health model for cleft treatment, drastically improving children’s lives, including their ability to eat, breathe, speak, and ultimately thrive. To learn more about how Smile Train's sustainable approach means donations have both an immediate and long-term impact, please visit https://www.smiletrain.org/.
Press Contact
Nicole Bell | Vice President of Public Relations, Smile Train
(807) 787-0877 | nbell@smiletrain.org