CLAPAS to reach every cleft child and family in Sabah
KOTA KINABALU: The Cleft Lip and Palate Association (CLAPAS) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization comprised of parents with cleft and/or cleft palate children, medical professionals and members of the public dedicated to help support and provide medical aid to underprivileged cleft children born in Sabah.
Its deputy chairman, Teddy Chin, said CLAPAS’ aim is to reach every cleft child and family in Sabah and provide professional excellence in the management of their cleft condition.
This, he said includes timely assessment at birth by professionals involved in the management of clefts and provide a comprehensive treatment program for early corrective surgery, hearing, dentition, speech and cleft education to families.
Teddy disclosed that CLAPAS initiated an awareness program called ‘Clap for Joy’ through which it aims to raise public awareness and provide free medical education of the cleft condition through various charity events, public talks, free professional consultation and activities.
“We also want to provide opportunities for the public to become members and get involved in CLAPAS activities as well as build fund-raising relationships to help raise funds for the association to implement its main objectives of providing excellence in professional medical aids to cleft children and their families.
“At CLAPAS we believe in bringing joy, changing lives of every underprivileged cleft lip and/or cleft palate child born in Sabah through well-timed professional medical care,” he added.
Teddy said that a corrective surgery would cost about RM15,000 in the private sector and it is CLAPAS’ aim to raise funds for every child from underprivileged families needing the procedure.
“We need public support to allow these children to have the best of medical care and we would like to bring attention to the concerned members of the public towards the plight of these children and their families.
“Those interested to assist can get more information by visiting www.clapforjoy.org or clapforjoy on Facebook,” said Teddy.