When you see something disturbing, the easiest thing to do is look away.
Trishla was only two months old when she first came into the Department of Plastic Surgery in Mengo Hospital, Kampala, Uganda. She was born with cleft lip
and palate and even her own mother found her frightening to look at.
Her disfigured face meant that she was unable to breastfeed and she was already malnourished. Without surgery, she could have died. And even if she had survived, she'd have struggled to overcome her disability and other people's attitudes, including those of revulsion and fear.
Mengo Hospital
These attitudes are something that CBM Consultant Plastic Surgeon - Andrew Hodges faces so often. However, CBM won't look away, because children like Trishla need urgent medical help - and no-one apart from CBM is coming to provide it.
The Mengo Hospital performs around 67 cleft repairs each month - that's about the same number as a busy UK cleft centre would perform in a year! That's usually in addition to performing operations for other disabling conditions such as congenital (birth) defects, tumours and burns - many of which are shocking to see.
Plastic Surgery
Plastic surgery in Uganda does not mean cosmetic enhancement - it can mean survival to some children. Despite the urgency, there are still only three plastic surgeons in the whole of Uganda, with a population of around 30 million.
Determination
Since CBM operated on Trishla at 4mths, she has thrived. Her parents brought her back to the hospital a year after the operation. Her parents showed great courange and determination in seeking help for their daughter - in Uganda there is a huge stigma towards people with disabilities where families can feel ashamed or even cursed by disability - often leading to children being hidden away from their community.
Make a life-changing difference NOW
By choosing to make a donation to CBM, you will really make a difference for children like Trishla who need urgent medical attention. The life-changing work that people like Andrew Hodges perform can transform their lives beyond all recognition.
You can make a donation online or give regularly to CBM via Direct Debit.
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