Phillip is a five-year-old boy living with his parents in Malawi. Phillip was born with a cleft lip, a congenital deformity that makes it difficult for him to eat and maintain a healthy weight. To make matters worse, Phillip was forced to stop attending school because of the social stigma.
Phillip’s parents sought treatment for their son at a local health facility, but the surgery he needs can only be performed at a hospital. As subsistence farmers, they cannot afford to leave their work to make the full-day trip to the nearest urban area.
For $405, Phillip will receive cleft lip surgery in a local hospital. This surgery will make it possible for him to eat enough food to gain weight, but will also allow Phillip to return to school and his family to reintegrate into their community.