Based on the number of cases for every thousand births in Mainland China, patients suffering from cleft lip or palate are increasing at the rate of 20,000 per year. The Foundation and the Ministry of Civil Affairs have each contributed RMB 50 million to launch phase one of Project New Life, an RMB 100 million program aimed at providing a holistic course of treatment and rehabilitation aimed primarily at children stricken by the disease.
The Foundation and the Ministry of Civil Affairs regard Project New Life as a new model for standardized surgical procedure, speech therapy rehabilitation, public health education, and volunteer participation to help bring new hope and new life for cleft lip patients, particularly children from impoverished families. More importantly, critical research conducted at the Shantou University Medical College will advance our understanding of the genetic causes of cleft lip and palate and explore possible solutions.
This is the nation's first holistic program and comprises a well-rounded array of research, treatment, and rehabilitation components including:
- Dedicated medical centers to be established at the 20 top hospitals across the nation to provide free standardized surgical procedures to ensure quality
- Speech therapy and psychological support to be offered following the surgery and promotion of education to preventive care
- Research, conducted by Shantou University Medical College, to explore the genetic basis for cleft lips and palates. While cleft lips and palates are caused by many factors, genes play a large role.
The Ministry of Civil Affairs will give policy support and seek cooperation with other ministries to promote health education and facilitate related research.
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