120 patients from State having cleft deformities to be treated
SHILLONG: Operation Smile has entered into a partnership with North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO) to reach out to more patients with cleft deformities in Meghalaya.
The tripartite arrangement among NEEPCO, the Government of Meghalaya and Operation Smile has been agreed upon to provide comprehensive cleft treatment to 120 patients from Meghalaya.
The World Health Organisation estimates that 1 in every 500-700 babies is born with a cleft deformity. Accordingly, Meghalaya has a backlog of more than 3000 patients with cleft deformities.
Operation Smile conducted its first mission in Shillong in September 2012, followed by a second mission in May 2014.
Through these two medical camps at the Operation Smile Comprehensive Cleft Care Centre located in Guwahati, Operation Smile India has provided surgeries to more than 500 patients from Meghalaya.
Operation Smile, which is a not-for-profit medical charity, provides reconstructive surgeries and rehabilitation to cleft patients in 62 countries globally.
Operation Smile India, the Indian arm of the organisation, started its activities in the Northeastern region in January 2009. In 2011 it set up a state-of-the-art centre at Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital, Guwahati, in collaboration with the Government of Assam.
Since then, the organisation has provided comprehensive cleft care to more than 12,300 patients of these two states.
Dr. Rashmi Taneja, Chairperson of Operation Smile India, said: “It is indeed heartening that NEEPCO has joined hands with Operation Smile and the Meghalaya Government’s efforts to provide surgery to cleft patients from Meghalaya. Reconstructive surgeries not only correct the deformities but also go a long way towards rehabilitation and mainstreaming of the individuals unfortunate to be born with clefts.”