Agenda About Rotaplast What is a Cleft? The Problem The Rotaplast Solution A Rotaplast Mission from Start to Finish The Rotary Connection Learn More and Get Involved!

Rotaplast International Rotaplast International is a 25 year-old global, humanitarian non-profit organization founded by the Rotary Club of San Francisco. Rotaplast transforms the lives of children in developing countries by performing free cleft lip and palate reconstructive surgeries. Rotaplast is proud that for every $1 contributed, $6-7 of patient care is delivered.

What is a Cleft? A cleft is an opening or gap of the lip or roof of the mouth which normally comes together during the early weeks of pregnancy. One in 700 children is born with a cleft lip or palate, or both.

Prevalence of Cleft Lips and Palates Worldwide, every two minutes a child is born with a cleft. 235,000 children with clefts are born each year. 7,500 children with clefts are born each year in the USA.

Known Causes of Cleft Lips and Palates Genetic predisposition Diet Lifestyle Lack of adequate vitamins Smoking while pregnant Pollution

Life Compromising Affects Abnormal appearance Inability to speak correctly Difficulty swallowing food Predisposition to upper-respiratory problems Hearing loss Dental problems Social stigma

The Rotaplast Solution We provide free, multidisciplinary care for cleft anomalies and other conditions requiring reconstructive surgery. We send all-volunteer medical teams and non-medical Rotarian teams into developing countries to deliver world-class care for children, young adults and families in need. We initiate multi-year sustainable programs so the local community may one day independently carry on the important work of Rotaplast.

How Does Education Lead to Sustainability? We collaborate with local medical professionals and teach post-surgical care. We educate local physicians and specialists how to perform cleft surgeries. We search for permanent solutions through genetic research led by world renown geneticists. Where feasible, we create local cleft clinics to carry on Rotaplast’s work.

A Child’s Life is Changed Forever with a Few Hours of Surgery

The Rotaplast Mission Site Selection: A 12 month process of diligence, site preparation and planning. Funding: Rotary sponsors fundraise to pay for Rotaplast missions. Rotarians are key sponsors and non-medical mission volunteers. Supplies & Equipment: Mission participants accompany medical supplies and surgical equipment to each mission site. Logistical Support: Local Rotary Club volunteers support missions through patient recruitment, local travel arrangements, ground transportation, hospitality, visas and customs.

The Rotaplast Mission from Start to Finish A Typical Schedule Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday DEPARTURE Travel to Mission site & prepare clinic Pre-Clinic Surgery 1 Surgery 2 Surgery 3 Surgery 4 Day Off Surgery 5 Surgery 6 Surgery 7 Surgery 8 Post-Clinic RETURN Pre-Clinic, Surgeries, and Post-Clinic Pre-Clinic: The first full working day of patient screening & pre-op evaluations to select candidates for surgery. Surgery: Six to eight days of surgery. Post-Clinic: Last day on the mission dedicated to following up with patients and ensuring surgical success. Day Off: Volunteers work hard but enjoy free time and camaraderie outside the hospital. A day trip is planned by local Rotarians that usually includes visits to notable cultural sites.

Who Goes On Missions? Medical Volunteers Plastic Surgeons Anesthesiologists Operating Room Nurses Recovery Nurses Orthodontists Dentists Speech Pathologists Geneticists Audiologists Pediatricians

Who Goes On Missions? Non-Medical Volunteers Mission Director Asst. Mission Director Quartermaster Medical Recorder Equipment Sterilizer Photojournalist Pre/Post-Op Asst. Patient Transporter Translators Recreation Therapist Recovery Room Asst.

The Rotary Partnership The Rotary Club of San Francisco founded Rotaplast 25 years ago. We remain indelibly linked in service above self. Rotary Clubs are major financial sponsors of Rotaplast and make up our volunteer army. Foreign Rotary Clubs host our missions. Working with Rotarians and local health officals in host countries fosters International goodwill. Thanks to Clubs like yours, we have performed 19,000 surgeries in 26 countries. Your continued support and partnership allow us to save the smiles and change the lives of children throughout the world.

Learn More and Get Involved! Go to www.rotaplast.org Follow our blog, which includes daily updates from current missions. Join us on Facebook to stay in touch. Never hesitate to contact the Rotaplast office at (415) 252-1111. We look forward to hearing from you!