Partnered with maxillofacial surgeons from the US and Colombia, Alegria was established in 2013 as a California-based non-profit organization to provide surgical and medical care to patients who suffered from congenital lip and palate deformities.
With a combined experience of more than 20 years as organizers and volunteer participants of cleft lip and palate repair campaigns, founding members recognized the limitations of other foundations in providing long term, and recurrent care to patients. The Alegria Foundation made quality of care, over quantity of care, the organizations priority.
Among the craniofacial malformations, cleft lip and palate are the most common. The Center for Desease Control and Prevention estimates that in the United States, 2650 babies are born with cleft lip every year and 4440 babies are born with cleft lip with or without palate. These numbers are a lot higher in developing countries, for example in Colombia (one of Alegria’s serving countries), cleft lip and palate deformities account for 1 case every 1000 births. However, in many parts of the world, corrective surgery and the follow-up and support services simply aren’t available, nonetheless affordable. Through creative partnerships with oral and plastic surgeons, anesthesiologists, pediatric dentists and administrative support from the US, as well as local Colombian pediatricians, oral surgeons, and psychologists, Colombian government and health ministry officials, EcoPetrol, the Rotary Club and the Colombian Red Cross, Alegria’s most recent mission treated 47 patients ranging in ages from 17 days to 24 years old in four working days. As part of the continued care for the patients, Alegria has established working alliances with local professionals including surgeons, pediatricians, and the local health department so that the progress and overall health of patients can be continually monitored once the US-based team has left Colombia.
