Medical Mission Trip
Rotaplast International is a non-profit corporation which serves children of third world countries. First organized in 1993, a small medical team traveled to Chile in hopes of treating children with cleft lip & palate deformities. The initial trip was just the beginning. Rotaplast alone has now treated over 9,500 patients.
The experiences I've had with Rotaplast, NW International and Interplast have allowed me to help many children and their families. Like most parents, these families only want what's best for their children, but coming from such poor villages, they are unable to provide even the basic necessities. Seeing a doctor of any kind is many times not possible.
February 2009
Alliance for Smiles ** Dhaka, Bangladesh
Dr. & Mrs. Hauge joined a medical team on a mission trip to Dhaka, Bangladesh. Their trip was organized by Alliance for Smiles and sponsored by Rotary Clubs from Hong Kong, Oregon and California.
111 surgeries were performed on children with cleft lip and palate deformities at the Dhaka Chidlren's Hospital. This was an outstanding experience for all of the team members.
The surgeries went well. Excitement however developed when there was a minor coup in Dhaka. The team was on "lockdown" for days, tanks rolled through the streets to control protesting paramilitary troops who had assassinated several government military officers.
The team returned grateful to live in a peaceful country where negotiations are generally non violent.
 
 
“Alliance for Smiles”
Funded by Rotary Club International and Smile Train.
Sponsors trip to Ghana, Africa
April 2010
Dr. Hauge and team, including wife Sharon, and step-daughter Sally, treated over 90 patients. The majority of the patients required cleft lip and palate treatment. Other patients had facial defects related to trauma or to “Noma”, a rare disease which destroys facial tissues.
The team worked in Accra, the capital city of Ghana. It was once know as a major port in the “Slave Trade”. It is likely young people with cleft lips & palates would not have made it to the slave block. This may have altered the incidence of defects in Afro-Americans vs. Africans. Native Africans appear to have a higher incidence than their descendants in America.
The Ghanaian surgeons and nursing staff were very helpful in assisting us during our long and busy days in the O.R.
We left Africa with high hopes that their energies and new skills will help them care for their own children with clefts.
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