Smile Train
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 05 2011:
Shija Hospitals and Research Institute will provided free corrective surgical treatment to six patients with cleft lip and palate from Churachandpur district under Smile Train Cleft Project.
The kids were brought to the hospitals by one Mang Tynglut.
Smile Train Shija Cleft Project which was launched on June 11 as a joint initiative between Shija Hospitals, Langol and Smile Train Inc, USA.
Other facilities provided under this project are free stay in the hospital, free medicine, free gifts at the time of discharge from the hospital and travelling allowance up to a permissible limit.
Statistics show that one is born with cleft defect in every 600 to 800 live birth and in India, over 35,000 children are born with cleft lips or palates every year.
This clearly indicates that there are still many untreated cleft patients in Churachandpur district.
Individuals who are suffering with unrepaired clefts cannot eat or speak properly, are not allowed to attend school or hold a job and face very difficult lives filled with shame and isolation.
Cleft lip or palate however is not a curse or omen and no child needs to suffer with a cleft.
Cleft lip is best operated at 4 months and palate at 14 months to offer the best results.
All the social activists, NGOs' and clubs of Churachandpur district are requested to kindly join hands with Mang Tynglut in offering new smiles, new hopes to these poor individuals suffering with cleft defects.