Ibrahim’s Story
Ibrahim was 7 months old when he visited us in July this year. He first arrived through one of our early intervention programmes and returned this July to receive surgery for his cleft condition. At the early intervention programme, he received baby milk in order to grow stronger for surgery.
His mother told us this July, ‘I am happy with the nutrition that my son received. It has brought good change to my child, and I think many children born with a cleft may suffer malnourishment, and illness due to the difficulties eating with such a condition. So, I am very happy with the nutritional support that Ibrahim received making him strong enough for this surgery today.’ Ibrahim’s mother also told us that her previous experiences of judgement and stigma surrounding her son’s condition led her to feel sad and distressed.
“I remember the social impact and isolation that I experienced within our local community due to Ibrahim’s condition. When he was born, the health worker told me about Project Harar and registered my son’s condition immediately, reporting our situation to the charity and to the Zonal Health Bureau. After that, the news of Project Harar’s early intervention programme reached us, and we made the journey to receive nutritional support for Ibrahim. This time around, the nurse told me that my baby was much stronger than before. I am so grateful for the work that the charity does. My initial fears within the local community were solved, and I am very thankful. I hope that more families will come forward with their children to seek this treatment.”