CLEFT CARE CENTER
The Cleft Care Center (CCC) at the Faculty of Dentistry, Ain Shams University, is Egypt’s first charitable, multidisciplinary specialist center dedicated to the comprehensive treatment of children born with cleft lip and/or palate.
Mission & Core Approach
●Charitable Service: Founded in 2008 by Prof. Dr. Marwa El-Kassaby, the center provides high-quality treatment following international standards.
●Comprehensive Care: It offers a continuous care pathway from birth to adulthood, ensuring patients are not just treated surgically but rehabilitated socially and functionally.
●Dual Structure: The center operates through two arms: the Cleft Care Clinic (medical) and the Cleft Care Club (social/fundraising)
Multidisciplinary Team
Treatment is delivered by a diverse team of specialists to address all aspects of the condition:
●Surgical: Oral and maxillofacial surgeons, plastic surgeons, and pediatric surgeons.
●Dental Specialties: Orthodontists, pedodontists (pediatric dentists), and prosthodontists.
●Allied Health: Speech therapists, audiologists, ENT surgeons, and pediatricians.
●Support: Nutritionists and geneticists to assist with feeding and family history
Services & Specialized Clinics
●Surgical Interventions: Cleft lip and palate repairs, alveolar cleft grafting, and orthognathic (jaw) surgery.
●Rehabilitative Care: Dental implants, oral rehabilitation for road accident patients with facial fractures, and tumor-related reconstructions.
●Specialized Sessions: The Cleft Care Clinic holds a dedicated specialty session every Thursday (10:00 AM – 1:00 PM).
●Education & Support: Parenting seminars (e.g., "How to properly deal with your kid?") and development programs for children and youth
Location & Support
●Address: 4th Floor, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, African Union Street (off El-Khalifa El-Maamoun Street), Abbassia, Cairo.
●Charitable Funding: The center relies on donations to cover basic operation costs for underprivileged families
CLEFT CARE CLUB
The Cleft Care Club (CCC) at the Faculty of Dentistry, Ain Shams University, is a pioneering community of dental volunteers established in March 2010. It serves as the social and fundraising arm of the Cleft Care Center, working alongside the specialized clinic to provide comprehensive, charitable support for children born with cleft lip and/or palate.
Core Objectives
●Fundraising: Raising funds to supply medical and dental equipment for the Cleft Care Clinic and financially support underprivileged families during the treatment journey.
●Awareness: Spreading information about cleft conditions through media campaigns and public events to reduce social stigma.
●Holistic Development: Implementing specialized programs to foster the social and emotional growth of affected children and youth
Service Structure
The club is organized into four distinct teams to manage its community impact:
● Human Development Team: Focuses on child and parent development, organizing indoor and outdoor activities that enrich the minds and souls of patients.
●Awareness Team: Conducts campaigns in schools and colleges and manages digital presence to reach a wider audience.
●Fundraising Team: Secures sponsors and organizes charity bazaars to ensure the sustainability of the clinic’s free services.
● Human Resources Team: Manages the recruitment and orientation of new dental student volunteers.
Leadership & Legacy
Founded through the efforts of Prof. Dr. Marwa El-Kassaby, the center is the first charitable multidisciplinary clinic in Egypt for cleft care. The club has been recognized as a top student activity at Ain Shams University, often hosting international delegations to showcase its unique community service model.
