SAIDA - The South African Inherited Disorders Association

A cleft palate is a defect of the palate in which a longitudinal opening exists in the roof of the mouth. A cleft lip is a lip with a gap in it (also known as harelip). The cleft is a result of incomplete development of the lip or palate during embryogenesis. The lip and palate develop independently so it is possible to have a cleft of the lip or a cleft of the palate separately, or they may occur together.

Cleft lip and palate is a common birth defect in South Africa. The incidence is about 1.4 per 1000 births in the white population and about 0.4 per 1000 births in the black population. White males are generally more often affected than white females, with a sex ratio of about 2 to 1. Clefting conditions may be caused by either genetic factors, environmental factors or a combination of both (multifactorial mode of inheritance).

Cleft Pals, Gauteng

Mrs Jammine
P.O BoX 34292
Jeppestown
2043
Tel: (011) 788-9759
Email: listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com

Cleft Pals, Kwazulu Natal

Dr. Pam Herber
Tel: (031) 847539

Cleft Pals: Western Cape

Att: Mrs Ros Lentons
Speech Therapy Dept.
Groote Schuur Hosp.
Cape Town
Tel: (021) 404-6459

Cleft Pals: Free State

Att: Rene Loftus
Tel: (051) 521-4369

The International Birth Defects Information Systems (I.B.I.S) The International Birth Defects Information Systems (I.B.I.S) is a multi-lingual website dedicated to promote better care, wellbeing and prevention of malformation and developmental disorders through information sharing. IBIS Appeal IBIS Newsletter

Medical Genetic and Counselling Services Genetic counselling is a process whereby patients and their families are assisted in addressing their concerns relating to the development or transmission of a genetic disorder. Medical diagnosis, prognosis, the genetics and recurrence risks of the presenting disorder, together with providing families with options to deal with their risks and manage the disorder in the best possible way, are the primary aims of our genetic counselling service. The multidisciplinary team consists of medical geneticists, medical officers, genetic counsellors and students in training. To find out more about genetic counselling, click here. To find out more about genetic counselling clinics, please contact Mrs Zain Jakoet on the following. Tel: (011) 489-9224 Fax: (011) 489-9224

The Department of Human Genetics, University of the Witwatersrand The department of Human Genetics at the University of the Witwatersrand has published information on the commoner genetic disorders in South Africa. Please click here for more information.

The South African Society for Human Genetics The Southern African Society for Human Genetics (SASHG) is a non-profit organization for health care professionals involved and interested in Human or Medical Genetics. Please click here for more information.