KOHIMA, JAN 24 (DIPR): Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today launched the Smile Train Shija Cleft Project in Nagaland at Hotel Japfü, Kohima.
Clefts are a major problem in developing countries and Rio expressed surprise over the fact that there are many such cases in the Northeast, although few come forward to avail help. He said people living with such problems experience social stigma, pain and misery and said that the project will be a boon for the poor and deprived people who are born with congenital deformities. Rio further expressed happiness on learning that the sponsors will be launching the second phase of the project.
Rio expressed gratitude to the project, which is a joint effort of Smile Train Inc., USA and Shija Hospitals, Langol. He also further expressed happiness that it would conduct free surgeries of 750 cleft lips, palate and associated problems in 18 months, whichever earlier. Rio said this is a real gesture and hoped that the people of Nagaland will come forward to avail the opportunity.
Stating that the media plays a big role in bringing information to patients especially in the backward areas, Rio urged even the NGOs to take more steps forward in making contact and bringing notice to the concerned department and to the Smile Train Shija Cleft Project to do the needful.
Partnered Plastic Surgeon, Shija Hospitals, Imphal, Dr. Kh. Palin, who gave an introduction to the project said it aims to conduct free surgeries of 750 cleft lips, palate and associated problems in 18 months, between the age group of 4 months to 40 years. He said that free surgeries are done for cleft lip, cleft palate, operated nose deformity, operated lip deformity, gum defect and operated palate with speech defect.
Dr. Palin also said that patients from Nagaland will be treated free of cost including operation, medicine and stay and also grant a sum of Rs. 1000/- to each patient coming from Nagaland as help to their traveling expense. He further requested the media, doctors, social workers and other influential people of the state to spread the message and help unfortunate citizens of the region to lead a normal life.
Smile Train is an NGO launched in 1998 with a goal to eradicate the global problem of cleft lips and palates with a comprehensive approach of free training for doctors, free surgery for children and research to find a cure. It is supported by thousands of individuals and private foundations and does not receive any governmental funding. Smile Train started in India in late 2000 and has 82 ‘partner’ surgeons and sponsored more than 65,000 cleft surgeries.
