Smile Train India, India’s largest cleft care NGO, and the National Health Mission, Madhya Pradesh, signed an MoU to renew their successful partnership which has helped to provide free surgical care to and benefitted more than1700 children born with clefts in Madhya Pradesh since 2016. The partnership has been renewed till December 2023.
Under the partnership, RBSK officials in Madhya Pradesh will identify and direct children with cleft lips and palates to one of the seven Smile Train partner hospitals in Madhya Pradesh for free treatment. Smile Train partner hospitals will provide free cleft lip and palate surgeries, and post-operative care to the children.
Cleft, a gap in the upper lip or the roof of the mouth, is a birth anomaly that can be completely treated with surgery and related ancillary care, but it is important that children get treatment at the right age to live a healthy and productive life. Delayed treatment can lead to speech and hearing problems, besides social stigma and isolation for the cleft patient.
