In 2011 we were able to realise our first training and surgical campaign in Rwanda’s capital city. For the first time local physicians, anaesthesiologists and nurses were trained in the surgery of cleft children under the voluntarily provided supervision of our oral and maxillofacial surgeons Dr. Dr. Blume from Munich and Dr. Au-Balbach from Solingen. The local surgeons work with great dedication and care - just like the German physicians who supervise the projects. Already in this first campaign we were able to give a new life to thirty children. Our prime objective in Rwanda is now to medically train local surgeons, so that the surgery can be performed independently.

Oliver Blume and Gunther Au-Balbach will continue the training of the young local surgeons Dr. Laurent and Dr. Faustin from the university clinic in one or two training units per year. Dr. Laurent additionally underwent a training unit with Prof. Dr. Rao in India 2011.

Join us in our help

Medical treatment in Africa faces considerable problems. In Rwanda there is approximately one doctor to every 25,000 people. A high-quality treatment of children with cleft lips and palates is virtually non-existent. A large obstacle in the treatment of patients in Africa is the wide-spread belief in the cure through medicine men and the accompanying scepticism against medical treatments and procedures. Illnesses and deformations such as cleft lips and palates are often seen as incurable curses. The education of the population on the treatment of a cleft lip and palate is therefore an important part of our work in Africa. Join us in our help to give cleft children in Rwanda a second chance.