European Cleft Organisation - ECO 2.56

The European Cleft Organisation was launched in 2007 and is based in The Hague, Holland. It was set up as a pan-European partnership between service users (patients and parents) and health professionals involved with their care. This is reflected in the board which comprises patient representatives and health professionals in equal measure. Pending funding our priority activities over the next five years are to continue our education projects in countries where babies are likely to be marginalised and to develop Europe wide training programmes for health professionals and patient groups. We will also continue our lobbying activities to get cleft lip and/or palate on the health agendas of individual governments and the European Union. The charity currently employs two paid members of staff who as well as coordinating overall activities are directly involved with country projects and training programmes.