Evaluations

Each year, we travel to an average of ten different provinces in Guatemala. During these visits, we evaluate all the children who have undergone surgery in the past year. We provide aftercare where needed, welcome new patients, and inform parents about cleft lip and palate, such as the use of folic acid if they plan to have more children. Parents have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss issues related to aftercare. Additionally, we conduct home visits to gain a better understanding of the living conditions of the people. In the various provinces, we provide training to local nurses, pediatricians, and social workers with whom we collaborate. It is crucial to maintain a good relationship with both the families and the professionals we work with.

During the evaluations and surgery weeks, we collect as much data as possible by conducting interviews with families. These conversations help us gain more insight and strive to implement preventive measures against cleft lip and palate in Guatemala in the future. We actively participate in international conferences on cleft lip and palate, including those in Mexico, Chile, Brazil, Colombia, and El Salvador, to share our approach. Additionally, we receive visits from emerging organizations that treat cleft lip and palate in other countries and share our knowledge to support them.