Kohima, October 15 (MExN): A team of Smile Train Shija Cleft Project led by Dr. Kh. Palin, MS, MCh, FICS, Consultant Cosmetic Surgeon, Shija Asian Cosmetic Centre will be available for Smile Train Shija Cleft Project – Mission Nagaland, 35th Phase to be held at Oking Hospital & Research Clinic, Kohima on October 23 and 24.
The organisers have stated that Smile Train Shija Cleft Project, Mission Nagaland is designed to reach out to the people of Nagaland who are suffering from cleft lip and palate. It is a collaborative effort of Smile Train Shija Cleft Project and Oking Hospital & Research Clinic, Kohima towards rendering new smile, new hope and new life to cleft lip and cleft palate patients by rendering absolutely free of cost corrective surgery.
A cleft is a separation or gap in the body structure. Two major types of oral or facial clefts are cleft lip (involving the lip) and cleft palate (involving the roof of the mouth or the soft posterior tissue inside the mouth). Clefts are a major problem in developing countries where there are millions of children who are suffering with unrepaired clefts. Most 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, pain and heartache. Many are unable to avail the treatment due to financial constraint and unawareness of the free treatment facility.
The cost of per operation is around Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 40,000 in other institutions wherein Smile Train Shija Cleft Project offers surgery absolutely free of cost. The minimum eligibility to undergo the operation for Cleft Lip the patient should be 6 months old and for Cleft Palate the patient should be 14 months old. Apart from free treatment, it would also extend free medicines and free hospital stays including travelling allowance up to a permissible limit.
They have also earnestly appeal to all the politicians, teachers, health workers and social activists to propagate this free treatment package in their respective areas so that those suffering from cleft lip and palate can come forward and avail the free treatment and give them a new lease of life.
The patients should get themselves registered at Oking Hospital & Research Clinic, Kohima one or two days ahead of the operation for necessary examination. For further information, call Oking Hospital, Kohima (0370 2290080/2290146, 9436000494) or Shija Asian Cosmetic Centre (7629076763, 9436235270).
