Beleste’s Story
Beleste came to our programme at Gamby hospital this July with his parents who are both farmers in Amhara. Beleste is seven months old and is the fourth child of his parents but the first in the family with a cleft condition. Gamby hospital is around 280km from Beleste’s home, but stigma towards the family made this journey necessary for the family’s wellbeing.
His mother explained to us;
“one of the most frustrating challenges for me was feeding my baby. My baby kept on crying, and I could not help him. This situation was incredibly stressful and I had to consider how my child would be able to get enough food. He used to cry a lot and this made me so upset.”
Beleste’s mother also expressed the loneliness and isolation that she and her family experienced because of the stigma surrounding her son’s condition.
‘I don’t like the way people gossip about my baby. They do not say the things when we are together, but they talk behind our backs. They believe that the baby’s condition is God’s punishment to my family. These misconceptions are so damaging.’
Beleste’s mother went on to explain that people from her community distanced themselves from her because of Beleste’s condition. She stopped participating in social life and community gatherings.
‘Project Harar solved our distress and now we are happy. This free service has changed my son’s life. I am so happy with this treatment. It has liberated out family from stigma and discrimination in the community. Overall, I am very excited and very grateful for the treatment given to my child. A beautiful service.’