Project start in Popayán: David's cleft surgery marks the commencement of work at our second project location in Colombia.
Help for children with cleft lip and palate in Colombia
Das erste Mal trinken mit verschlossener Lippenspalte: unser erster kolumbianischer Patient Maui.Deutsche Cleft Kinderhilfe in Colombia
In August 2022, our partner Dr. Jorge Enrique Navarro Barrios performed the first cleft surgery funded by us in the country in Barranquilla and Cartagena on the northern coast of Colombia. The patient was Maui, a child of poor indigenous parents, who became the “star” of our current TV commercial because of his extraordinary life story.
A second project was launched in May 2024 in the so-called “Ciudad Blanca” of Popayán. Located around 1,300 km from Barranquilla, “Ciudad Blanca” offers an important point of contact for children with cleft lip and palate in the south of the country, improving the accessibility of our aid infrastructure in the country. This new project is headed by surgeon Dr. Oscar Ñáñez López. In his home region, there is a great need for cleft operations and hardly any treatment options for people affected by cleft.
Dr. Navarro explains the upcoming palate surgery to Neyla's mother.
Project start in the „Ciudad Blanca“ Popayán. David is the first patient whose surgery was funded by us here. The project leader and head surgeon is Dr. Oscar Ñáñez López.Key areas of our work in Colombia
In terms of surgery numbers, Colombia is one of our smaller project countries, but with two experienced partner surgeons and good geographical coverage, we have achieved an excellent basis for our continued work for children with cleft lip and palate in Colombia. Our experienced doctors provide children born with cleft lip and palate in Colombia with the surgeries they need to lead a life without limitations.
News from Colombia
Impressions from our work in Colombia
Country portrait Colombia
Colombia is located in the north of the South American continent. With some 50 million inhabitants, it has the second largest population on the continent. Accordingly, many children are born with cleft lip and palate. Many families in Colombia live in difficult conditions: almost 20% of the population live on less than $3.65 a day.
Organized crime in Colombia leads to a critical security situation in the country and makes our work more difficult.
