ElSalvador
Next Mission: January 22-30, 2011
ElSalvador is a country known for its beautiful beaches, mountains and volcanoes. It currently has a steadily growing economy, but natural disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes have hindered its progress. El Salvador is among the most impovershed countries in Latin America.
95% of the children born with cleft deformities in El Salvador live in impoverished conditions. They cannot afford, access, and often do not attempt to receive cleft treatment.
Hospital Nacional de Niños Benjamin Bloom of San Salvador, El Salvador is the only hospital that treats children with clefts. With its limited resources, this children's hospital can only attend to approximately 150 patients per year, while the number of cleft babies increases annually by 600.
In response to a significant need, The Global Smile Foundation travels to San Salvador to perform corrective cleft lip and microtia procedures, as well as pediatric dental procedures
GSF's most recent mission (need dates)