Smile Train, the largest cleft-focused NGO in the world, is proud to announce a monumental achievement: they have successfully provided over 700,000 free cleft surgeries in India through their extensive network of partner hospitals. This milestone is a testament to the tireless dedication of Smile Train’s medical staff, donors, and partners who work hard every day to change lives and transform communities.
Susannah Schaefer, Smile Train’s President and CEO, made the announcement during a visit to Bengaluru, where she emphasized the organization’s unwavering commitment to providing safe, high-quality cleft care. She also highlighted Smile Train’s broader approach to cleft care, which includes not just surgical care but also non-surgical treatments such as nutrition and feeding support, orthodontic services, speech therapy, and psychosocial counseling. This comprehensive approach ensures the best possible outcome for every patient and is a key factor in Smile Train’s success.
India has one of Smile Train’s largest programs globally, with over 35,000 babies born with a cleft every year. Children with untreated clefts often face social isolation and can experience difficulties in eating, breathing, hearing, and speaking. Smile Train’s innovative model of empowering local doctors and hospitals with the funding, training, and resources needed to provide free, high-quality care has been a game-changer, ensuring that every child in need can access life-changing care, regardless of their financial situation.
Susannah Schaefer, President and CEO of Smile Train, expressed her pride in the achievement, stating, “The 700,000th surgery milestone is a significant achievement, and our focus for the future remains expanding our comprehensive programs to ensure access to safe, free, high-quality cleft care for every child in need.”
Mamta Carroll, Vice President & Regional Director for Asia, Smile Train, added, “We remain committed to our values and strive for comprehensive cleft care for every child in need. Our extensive network of partner hospitals, medical experts, goodwill ambassadors, and generous donors has been instrumental in helping us reach this significant milestone. We will continue to work hard every day to transform the lives of children and families affected by clefts.”
Smile Train’s partnerships with like-minded medical and government-led organizations, including the National Health Mission’s Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI), and the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH), have played a critical role in driving early diagnosis and intervention for children with clefts and enhancing the safety and quality of surgical care at treatment centers across the country.
Through every surgery, Smile Train is changing lives, building awareness, and breaking down stigma surrounding clefts in India and around the world. Smile Train’s unwavering commitment to providing safe, free, and high-quality cleft care to every child in need has changed the lives of over 700,000 children, and they will continue to transform communities one smile at a time.