Alemnesh’s Story
Alemnesh arrived at Selam Hospital this June with her mother to receive surgery for her cleft lip. She is 2 years old and is an only child. When Alemnesh was born, her father walked out, leaving Alemnesh’s mother to raise her daughter alone. Stigma surrounding cleft conditions is commonplace in Ethiopia and cases like this one are widespread.
“Alemnesh’s condition meant that I was unable to have a social life. I lived on my own with my daughter and because of this loneliness I judge myself and my actions which makes me feel even worse about my situation”
Alemnesh and her mother live rurally in Ethiopia and information about medical support is difficult to get hold of, so when their health extension worker told them about Project Harar, Alemnesh’s mother decided she would travel to Selam hospital to receive this treatment.
Alemnesh’s mother shares the challenges of her life
due to her child’s cleft condition:
“When I first gave birth and found out that Alemnesh had a cleft lip, I was so sad. I hadn’t seen this condition before, and it made me so stressed. In our community, when they saw Alemnesh, I was blamed for her condition, they thought I had sinned. My husband left us, and I had no idea what to do. I could not seek help for her condition because we already lived a difficult lifestyle. I thought maybe I could find something that she could eat and muddle through, but we were so lucky when the health extension worker informed us of Project Harar’s work. Because of this treatment, my life has completely changed, I can see my friends now and go back to church. This is such a beautiful treatment.”