Smiling again: free surgery for cleft deformities offered

EMN Kohima, December 5 A team of plastic surgeons from Shija Hospitals of Imphal will be available to reconstruct lip and cleft palate deformities as part of the charity that the Smile Train Shija Cleft Project – Mission Nagaland is gifting to people suffering from the deformity. The project is in its 18th phase and would be held at Oking Hospital & Research Clinic in Kohima town from December 11 to the 13th for free cleft lip and palate surgery. A press release received here Thursday said Mission Nagaland is a joint initiative of the Smile Train Shija Cleft Project, Oking Hospital & Research Clinic, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan of Nagaland and Explore Nagaland. Smile Train Shija Cleft Project is an endeavor at gifting ‘new smiles’, new hope and new life to all people suffering from cleft lip and cleft palate deformities, by rendering absolutely free corrective surgery. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan of Nagaland has been supporting the project by sponsoring travelling and food allowances to the cleft lip and palate patients who are in the age group from 6 to 18 years. The cleft is a separation or gap in the body structure. Two major types of oral – 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). Most people suffering from the deformity cannot eat, drink or speak properly. Also, due to shame and social censure, they cannot even attend school or hold a job and lead a painful life in isolation. For far, 184 cleft patients from Nagaland have availed of free corrective surgical treatment under the project. All social workers, church leaders and teachers are requested to extend cooperation and support in disseminating the information for the forthcoming free cleft lip and palate surgery camp to be held at Kohima, the organizers said. For further information and advance registration, Oking Hospital & Research Clinic may be contacted at 0370 2243339 and 9089264984; Explore Nagaland at +91 9774039490 and SSA at Tali Zamir +91 9436604822.