EPIDEMIOLOGY
Lombok has about 3.000.000 inhabitants. In Bali it is estimated that the population of cleft lip and palate patients is around 8.000 persons. >> more....
We believe the incidence at Lombok will be about 1:400, which means there will be between 7.500 persons with cleft. Support for this number can be found at emedicine. This estimation is based on the Bali-estimate, literature about asian with 1:400 incidence, and the knowledge about islands having high incidences. See the Irish discussions.
Every year about 57.000 children are born on Lombok, meaning that between 140 new children are born with cleft lip and/or palate (1:400). However, it could be slightly less (1:500), 114 a year.
Some centers treat 1.800 children with this congenital deformity. Therefor, we believe we should be able to treat all children in Lombok. The number is not overwhelming.....