Smile Train
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 02 2019: To show patronage to their Smile Train partners such as RBSK, SSA, SSB, BSF, etc, for their efforts on spreading awareness regarding clefts, Shija Foundation organised 'The Smile Torch' event, at Indian Medical Association (IMA) Hall, Lamphelpat today.

The occasion was graced by Governor, Dr Najma Heptulla and Smile Train Partner surgeon Dr Kh Palin as the chief guest and president respectively.

Speaking at the event, the Governor said that 'Smile Torch' is aimed at generating awareness about cleft and the efforts for its amelioration.

The torch symbolizes the light of wisdom and the passion for knowledge, a metaphor for dispelling darkness of myths, fallacies and social stigma surrounding clefts.

'Smile Torch' is a unique national initiative for creating renewed awareness about cleft and its treatment and to sensitize communities about the challenges faced by children born with clefts.

Smile Train, an NGO based in the United States, is working for the goal to eradicate the global problem of cleft lips and palates, she added.

It is an undeniable reality that millions of children are suffering from un-repaired clefts in the developing countries.

They cannot eat or speak properly and are not allowed to attend school or hold a job.

Their lives are filled with shame and heartache as they cannot socialize with other children.

It deserves unreserved appreciation that more than one million free corrective cleft surgeries have been performed all over the world under the Smile Train Project, the Governor said.

Appreciating the services rendered by the Shija Foundation, Dr Najma Heptulla stated that the Government alone cannot bear the full burden of health care.

At least, a part of it must be given out to voluntary services, to people who are willing to serve the health system.

Apart from free corrective surgeries, other additional service under Smile Train Shija Cleft Project includes free diagnostic facilities, hospital accommodation, speech therapy and travelling allowance upto a permissible limit.

However, many children born with such birth defects have not availed these facilities simply due to lack of awareness.

With a population of nearly 30 lakhs, it is estimated that around 5000 people are suffering from such birth defects in Manipur, she stated.

The Governor also advocated encouraging the voluntary workers and voluntary organizations in setting up hospitals, nursing homes and other health care centres.

She said that the main objective of welfare services associated with the "Smile Train" should be to rehabilitate the children with handicap as normal citizens in the community and society they belong to, adding that the biggest service that normal people can give to handicap children is to eradicate any kind of discrimination.

As part of the programme, Dr Kh Palin gave presentation on Smile Train Shija Cleft Project.

He claimed that five lakhs cleft surgeries have been conducted in India in the last 20 years.

Explaining that 3800 corrective surgeries for lip cleft and palate have been successfully conducted in the State so far under Smile Train Shija Cleft Project, he informed that the around 2800 corrective surgeries had also been conducted in multiple States of North East and Myanmar under Mission Barak Valley, Mission Nagaland and Mission Myanmar.

He also conveyed that there are around 5000 children born with lip cleft and palate problem in the State.

MD, Oking Hospital, Kohima, Dr Vikethonyu spoke on Mission Nagaland while Smile Train Partner Surgeon Prof Dr Guruaribam Nilamani Sharma reported on Smile Torch event at Imphal.

Director, Smile Train Shija Cleft Project, Dr Bonney Kh, among others also presented papers and slide presentation during the function.

Prizes were also distributed to the winners of Smile Torch Spot painting competition which was held on April 28 under the theme 'What Makes Me Smile'.

It may be mentioned that Smile Train is an NGO based in New York, USA, which was launched in 1998 with the goal to eradicate the global problem of cleft lips and palates.

Cleft lip and palate are birth defects that affect the upper lip and roof of the mouth.

Research reveals that 1 in 600 live births is born with cleft lip or cleft palate or both.

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