Train brings the smile back on the faces of millions
With an average of 50,000 surgeries every year, Smile Train is planning to fan out to those rural areas that are presently not covered. Working exclusively on babies suffering with cleft lip, Smile Train corrects 50,000 children every year in India. Satish Karla, South Asian regional director, Smile Train says, “It is not a train. Initially we had plans to launch this programme on train but things didn’t work so we are working in hospitals.”
According to Mullaney Brian, co-founder and president of Smile Train, the largest charity in US, cleft lip cases are ethnic specific and are found more commonly in Asians and black Africans. “The incidence of cleft lip in Asians is 1 in 1500 and in blacks 1 in 1200 where as in Caucasians it is 1 in 700. A million children are needlessly suffering due to ignorance. Surgery can change their lives.” Brian adds, “The surgery is simple and costs just Rs 8000. It takes 45 minutes to return a smile on children’s faces, a smile that will last forever. But even today thousands of children are deprived of the surgery. It not just affects their schooling but also their quality of life as they are tormented.”
Hundred and fifty five hospitals and over 200 plastic surgeons in India conduct cleft lip surgeries sponsored by Smile Train.
“The uniqueness in this programme is that there are no mission doctors or hospitals from abroad conducting surgeries. Indian doctors are being trained and they take the procedure further in rural areas,” says Brian.
“Even though there is awareness and such cases are picked up fast. India has a huge backlog of children with cleft lip. Over 10 lakh children require surgeries in India. Currently there is a mismatch of resources available and the patients. We are in constant look out for new hospitals to start cleft lip surgery especially in rural areas,” says Karla.
URL:http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Train-brings-the-smile-back-on-the-faces-of-millions/376863