Around the world, 215,000 children are born with facial clefts each year. While developed countries can repair clefts within months, many children in West Africa do not have access to the simple surgeries needed due to lack of money and access to hospitals. This is shown through the story of Alseny, a twin from West Africa who was severely malnourished and at risk of death because his unrepaired cleft lip made feeding difficult; through Mercy Ships' infant feeding program and eventual free cleft surgery, Alseny was able to gain weight and have his cleft repaired.

1. Around the world
every year 215,000
children are born with
facial clefts
every year 215,000
children are born with

2. In developed countries, these
deformities are repaired within a
few months of birth

3. In West Africa,
most children
born with clefts
do not have
access to the
simple
surgeries
needed to
repair clefts

4. This is Mariama This is Alseny
They are twins

5. At 4 months, Alseny weighs 6.2 lbs
His sister weighs 12.1 lbs

6. Because
Alseny has a
cleft lip and
palate, he
cannot feed
well and only
gets a little
milk

7. As a result Alseny is severely malnourished
and will not live long without help

8. Alseny’s
mother did not
have the
money or
access to a
hospital to
treat his cleft
lip and palate

9. Alseny’s mother
heard about
Mercy Ships
and brought her
son to be seen.
Through Mercy Ships infant feeding program,
Alseny will receive the nutrition he needs to
gain weight for surgery.

10. 26 Weeks
6.2 lbs

11. 28 Weeks
9.7 lbs

12. 36 Weeks
17.8 lbs

13. Now that
Alseny is at a
healthy weight
He can have a
free surgery
with Mercy
Ships

14. A few short weeks of recovery and
Alseny’s lip has healed