Give HK Cleft Lip and Palate Families a Smile

Infection Prevention Measures for Resident Speech Therapy Service 

To prevent Coronavirus, our resident speech therapy had been stopped for 6 months and then re-started in the format of on-line sessions.  As local new cases came down steadily since August, HKACLP resumes resident speech therapy service for cleft lip and palate children by taking infection prevention measures such as installation of separation screen, application of masks, keeping hand hygiene & physical distancing, frequent toys and equipment cleaning so as to keep safe both the therapist and the students.

Charity Cleft Lip & Palate Treatment Project

Secondary Cleft Lip and Palate Deformities 

After primary surgical repair of cleft lip and cleft palate, a CLP patient may present as growing up with secondary deformities such as collapsed and asymmetric nostrils, insufficient and asymmetric upper lip etc. Besides, due to cleft palate, a majority of patients may have their mid face and upper jaw underdeveloped, resulting in underbite, plus the lower lip tends to evert forward which results in undesirable appearance, low self-esteem, speech problems, bite problems etc.  Therefore, Secondary Treatments are very important to CLP patients.

Charity Cleft Lip and Palate Treatment Project

Since the closure of the Plastic & Reconstructive Department of Princess Margaret Hospital in the year 2006 due to budget cut of the authority concerned, HKACLP has been receiving quite a number of ‘Seeking for Help’ cases, including those patients waiting too long for treatments, patients in mid-twenties but not rendered any secondary treatment due to disconnected Primary and Secondary Treatment at certain public hospitals, adult patients who missed their treatment in due course… Among these patients, most of them came from families of fairly limited means.

In view of these, HKACLP sought help from the Evangel Hospital, a non-profit making community hospital.  Thus the ‘Charity Treatment Project for Cleft Lip and Palate Patients’ was launched in the year 2012 jointly by “Hong Kong Multidisciplinary & Holistic Centre for Cleft Lip and Palate” of Evangel Hospital and HKACLP.  The project aims to provide early treatments to the adult patients to help correct their secondary cleft problems and facial difference so that they will not miss their golden age of life.  Eligible patients may receive orthodontic treatment, orthognathic surgery, lip & nose reconstructive surgery and ENT treatment at half of the fees.

Let Love Continue - Cleft Lip and Palate Treatment Fund 

The Fund is established in the same year as the Charity Treatment Project was launched.  By then, a Mrs. Yiu’s baby boy born with Pierre Robin Sequence who had his palate repaired twice at a public hospital but completely split apart, so Mrs. Yiu turned to HKACLP for help.  The baby was thus accepted for joining the Charity Treatment Project.  He had his palate repaired successfully by the surgeons of this Charity Treatment Project.  Mrs. Yiu, apart from extending her deepest gratitude to the team, donated the 50% discounted fee amounting $40,000 to HKACLP as a token of thanks on 5 November 2012.  Thus Let Love Continue - Cleft Lip and Palate Treatment Fund was established to offer subsidy (up to 25% of the treatment expenses) to the patients from CSSA and grass-roots families who are eligible for joining the Charity Treatment Project.

Links:

• HKACLP Website