Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala

Our Santiago Atitlan Story

Guatemala is Central America’s most populous country, with 14.3 million people; 40 percent of which are of indigenous descent. Incidence of cleft in the indigenous populations is among some of the highest in the world. Lack of folic acid and prenatal vitamins, consanguinity, and many other factors play a major role in this higher incidence. Guatemala continues to suffer from severe pediatric malnutrition resulting in the deaths of thousands of children on an annual basis.

GSF partnered with Hospitalito Atitlan in Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala. GSF Board Member Alan Silverstein and numerous other individual and corporate sponsors generously offered financial support for this mission.

Mission Statistics

(From GSF’s most recent mission — October 23-November 1, 2015)

The Team

• 5 Surgeons
• 4Anesthesia
• 4 OR Nurses
• 3 PACU Nurses
• 2 Peri-Op
• 2 Pediatrician
• 2 Dentist
• 1 Speech Therapy
• 1 IT/Logistics
• 2 Coordinators
• 1 Photographer

Cleft Lip/Palate Statistics

• 27 Total Operations
• 17 Cleft Lip Repairs
• 9 Cleft Lip Revisions
• 1 Cleft Lip Rhinoplasty

Dental Statistics

• 237 Total Treated Patients
• 55 Exams
• 113 Fillings
• 15 Extractions
• 27 Home Care Instructions