Our Work in Chile
Despite a National Cleft Protocol, families in low-income situations too often fall through the cracks, putting their child’s full rehabilitation at risk.
Salvador pictured with his mother, Evelin, at their home in Santiago
Cleft Care in Chile Today
Chile boasts significant cleft care expertise. However, economic and political instability have increased the barriers that families face in accessing this in-demand care. From guidance in navigating care options to bridging gaps for rural patients, to equipping patients to address stigma, Transforming Cleft’s partners are developing models of Comprehensive Cleft Care that are emulated throughout Latin America.
Listen to this podcast to learn more about a new training tool called the 3D Cleft Palate Simulator and how TC collaborated to provide training in Chile.
Fast Facts
- Population: 19,600,000
- Capital: Santiago
- Below Poverty Line: 11%
- Cleft Incidence: 300+/ year
Key Challenges
Psychosocial Support
Bullying and stigma related to cleft are significant challenges for families in Chile’s capital, Santiago.
Speech Therapy
Increasing economic insecurity places additional barriers to the ability of families to attend regular appointments to address challenges to their speech.
Family Support
Families affected by cleft in low-income situations may require additional support in navigating the treatment options available through the National Cleft Protocol.
ONG Cleft’s Canine Therapy Initiative in Chile
ONG Cleft, a TC partner based in Santiago, Chile, has grown an initiative to include canine therapy in their Comprehensive Cleft Care. Children and their families have reported lowered anxiety and stress during dental treatments. At the Cleft 2022 international conference, members of the ONG Cleft team presented on their findings.
Program Successes
Psychological counselling sessions provided for low income patients and/or caregivers
The average age of patients accessing Comprehensive Cleft Care
Patients who are benefiting from ‘Práctica en Línea’ a website with games and guides to improve Speech Therapy outcomes for patients with cleft
"The important thing is that a child with cleft now has an adequate solution for all their challenges and rehabilitation allows them to integrate fully into society. Here at Gantz, we provide this treatment with an interdisciplinary team, where both the parents and child are a part of this team."
- Jacqueline García, Head Nurse, Fundación Gantz
Stories of Success
Laced and Andry were overjoyed to be expecting another child. Would their daughter, Sarobidy, have a little brother or sister? Yet beneath the excitement, a quiet unease lingered. Joy filled the room when Marcella was born, but it was fleeting. Laced and Andry’s midwife had news. It was the very fear that had weighed on their hearts. Marcella was born with a cleft palate, just…
Story originally featured in Transforming Cleft’s Annual Report released in May 2023. For the last 20 years, Transforming Cleft has partnered locally to deliver Comprehensive Cleft Care (CCC) in Eastern Myanmar, where many families rely on medical care based in Thailand. Throughout 2022 & 2023, the border between Myanmar and Thailand remained closed. The…
Naly was born with a cleft palate. His parents were acquainted with the challenges this poses for feeding and eventually for clear speech – a cousin was also affected by cleft years earlier. Like their relatives, they felt that they had nowhere to turn. When Naly was 18 months old, the family learned that a surgical…
Nurit was relieved when her daughter, 1.5 year old Gebrela, made it successfully through her third surgical treatment at CURE Ethiopia, Transforming Cleft’s local partner. The procedure was shorter and less intimidating than her daughter’s cleft lip and cleft palate surgeries. By nearly eliminating the chance of cleft-connected hearing loss, Nurit knew it was worth…
“It was like a cold bucket of water pouring over me…”. Rubí described the moment she learned her son Brian would be born with a cleft lip and palate. As the news doused her, her thoughts darted. Until then, Rubí and her husband Luis were focused on the jubilation of their first pregnancy. Cleft wasn’t…
Cristian’s first experiences with healthcare caused his family to feel fear and distrust. He was born in Bolivia with a cleft lip and palate. His parents, Teresa and Fabricio, were uncertain about the future. But one thing they did know – they would be along side their son every step of the way. In Bolivia,…
Our Partners in Cleft Care
TC has been supporting partners in Chile since 2012.
Our Partnerships in Chile
- Fundación Gantz, Santiago
- ONG Cleft, Santiago
- Hospital Dr. Luis Calvo Mckenna, Santiago