Ayla was born in February 2023 with a cleft lip and palate in Luanda, the capital of Angola. Due to her bilateral cleft lip and palate, the little baby struggles to latch properly while breastfeeding. Ayla’s mother searches for help and never gives up. After a year and a half, she learns about BelaRisu, a Kenyan cleft aid organization. From December 9 to 14, the team from the BelaRisu Foundation is in Lubango to perform surgeries on cleft patients at Hospital Central. The mission is funded by the Deutsche Cleft Kinderhilfe.
Angola is a vast country, about three and a half times the size of Germany. Lubango is 900 kilometers away from Luanda, where Ayla and her family live. Despite the challenging two-day journey, the excitement is immense, and with great confidence, Ayla’s mother accompanies her little daughter to the preliminary examinations. The very next day, Ayla can undergo surgery! The operation goes well, and Ayla’s bilateral cleft lip is closed. A new face for Ayla—and a huge step into a new future for the entire family.
Ayla is one of our first patients to undergo surgery during the medical mission in Lubango. Led by Kenyan oral and maxillofacial surgeon Dr. Martin Kamau, one of the founders of the BelaRisu Foundation, the Deutsche Cleft Kinderhilfe carried out its first mission in Angola from December 9 to 14. Alongside his colleague Dr. Mahabubur R Khan and with the great support of the local team at “Hospital Central do Lubango,” 70 patients, ranging in age from 3 months to 51 years, were successfully treated.
This first mission in Angola was launched as a pilot project. But it won’t stop there: We have decided to continue our support in Angola. Three key factors influenced our decision: With BelaRisu, we have gained a dedicated and experienced new partner. The support and commitment of the Angolan team are significant—something that cannot always be taken for granted. And the most important reason for us: The need for help is immense.
In 2025, two surgical missions are planned in Lubango, with an expected 70 to 100 patients per mission. That means up to 200 additional surgeries we will fund in 2025. Please help us make this possible. So that children like Ayla have a real chance in life.
