We are working with Bangladeshi specialists at the National Institute of Burns and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka to create a sustainable, multi disciplinary centre to treat children with cleft lip and palate.
The videos about Bangladesh have been created by CLEFT film-maker Paul Whittaker. They give an insight to daily life in the Cleft and Craniofacial Centre, and show how the money raised by CLEFT has an impact on patients, their families and the staff there.
Despite ongoing political unrest in Bangladesh, CLEFT’s partnership with the cleft team at the National Institute of Burns and Plastic Surgery continues to thrive, thanks to the dedication of local clinicians and support from our Chairman, Brian Sommerlad. Read more
In collaboration with Dhaka University, a culturally tailored speech assessment tool has been developed for Bangladeshi children at the National Institute for Burns and Plastic Surgery cleft centre. This project focuses on creating a Bangla-specific assessment, complete with a picture book, to ensure accurate speech evaluation that reflects the local language and culture. Read more
During his visit to Dhaka earlier this year, Mr Brian Sommerlad (Chair of CLEFT and Consultant Plastic Surgeon) saw a number of familiar faces in the clinic. Shahriah and Khadjiatul are two patients requiring a large number of operations and complex treatments throughout their lifetime. Read more
During the team visit to the National Institute of Burns and Plastic Surgery in January, the cleft team repeated their request for help and training in alveolar bone graft and orthodontic management. Read more
Written by Juling Ong, Plastic and Craniofacial Surgeon at Great Ormond Street Hospital, this is a fascinating account of his time spent in Bangladesh as part of a teaching visit to the National Institute for Burns and Plastic Surgery this January. Read more
Two Speech & Language therapists from Great Ormond Street Hospital travelled to Bangladesh this January to provide ongoing training to colleague Fairooz Maliha, who works in the National Institute for Burns & Plastic Surgery, and to deliver some training workshops to other students. Read more
A team of UK medical professionals made a visit to the Cleft and Craniofacial Centre at the National Institute for Burns and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka, Bangladesh, this January 2023 on behalf of the CLEFT. The flights were generously provided by the Emirates Airline Foundation. Read more
The UK team that visited the NIBPS hospital in Bangladesh comprised three surgeons, two speech and language therapist, an audiologist, a clinical nurse specialist and orthodontist, Chloé Rolland. Read more
At the National Institute for Burns and Plastic Surgery in Bangladesh, an enthusiastic and capable team of nurses are specialising in cleft care. The Clinical Nurse Specialist is an essential member of the multi-disciplinary team that treat children born with cleft lip and/or palate. Read more
The cleft centre in the National Institute for Burns and Plastic Surgery (NIBPS) is a role model for what can be achieved and it is always good to learn of new developments with every visit. The team's initiatives really are helping to build solid foundations for the future. Read more
Brian Sommerlad, CLEFT Chairman and plastic surgeon, visited Bangladesh in August to spend time with the team in Dhaka but to also visit hospitals in Khulna and Mymensingh. With the Christies art auction taking place in October (2022), planning how the proceeds of the sale will provide most value is an important aspect of our charity work. Read more
During Mr Sommerlad's trip to Bangladesh this February (2022), two surgical sets were handed over to the cleft team in Dhaka. Read more
The pandemic has been hard on everyone, especially so when patients are unable to be seen. With Covid levels low enough, the cleft team in Bangladesh has been able to resume clinic. Read more
Craniofacial clefts are large clefts that can affect the face, eyes, nose and mouth. Read more
This important piece of equipment was supplied by CLEFT and is used to see moving images of the cleft palate. Nawrin is a 13 year old girl who was experiencing speech difficulties and needed the C-Arm to show the cleft team if further surgery was required. Read more
This film gives a fascinating insight into life in the cleft ward through the team that work there. Read more
Dental hygiene is important for everyone, but for children born with clefts, having healthy teeth is particularly important. Teeth can grown in unusual places when the structure of the jaw is altered by the cleft and so sometimes teeth can be difficult or even painful to access. Read more
Traditionally, patients are often asked to buy some of the materials that are needed for their operation at the National Institute of Burns and Plastic Surgery, including sutures for the stitches they need. Read more
We are working with Bangladeshi specialists at the new National Institute of Burns and Plastic Surgery to create a sustainable centre to treat children with cleft lip and palate. Read more