What is Cleft Peru?

Cleft Peru is a cooperation of German and Peruvian NGOs. Our goal is to give all Peruans with cleft lip and palate, a common birth defect, free access to the best possible treatment for their condition. To achieve this, we collect donations and use them to fund surgeries performed by our Peruvian partner surgeons at hospitals and on surgical missions throughout the country. In 2019, our surgeons performed 235 operations in Peru.

Cleft Peru – Who we are

Cleft Peru was initiated by the German NGO Deutsche Cleft Kinderhilfe e.V. (DCKH) and the Peruvian NGO QORITO. The goal of Cleft Peru is to provide optimal treatment to all Peruvians with cleft. It is not easy to help poor Peruvian cleft patients, because many of the families in need live in remote regions of the country which are hard to access. As a result, many of these poor families don’t have access to the medical specialists needed for proper cleft treatment, or can't afford the treatment without the help of the Cleft Peru partners.

The aid structure

Peruvian NGO QORITO performs the medical treatments, and Deutsche Cleft Kinderhilfe (DCKH) raises funds and promotes international awareness of the cause.

QORITO is a non-profit organization of medical professionals from fields important to the treatment of facial cleft, such as Plastic Surgery, Pediatrics, Odontopediatrics, Orthodontics, Language Therapy and Psychology. Qorito was founded in 2006 by plastic surgeon and director of the organization Dr. Alberto Bardales together with other surgeons. The main focus is to bring help not only to the capital Lima but also to remote areas, especially in the Andes, like Ayaviri (Puno), Cajamarca, Cusco, Huánuco, Arequipa and Huancayo.

Deutsche Cleft Kinderhilfe and QORITO started their cooperation in 2006 and have since provided children and adults suffering from cleft with the specialized medical care needed, including surgical interventions, comprehensive follow-up and rehabilitation. A particular focus lies on disadvantaged populations that otherwise might not have access to adequate treatment. To support their efforts, DCKH and QORITO organize training courses, conferences, workshops, and professional exchanges, as well as encourage and develop research programs related to cleft.

QORITO develops its activities in partnerships with Peruvian institutions such as the Ministry of Health, the Regional Health Directions, Public Benefits, and Universities. DCKH raises donations to pay for the treatments and provides organizational support.

You can find further information about the organizations here:

• Deutsche Cleft Kinderhilfe (DCKH)
• QORITO