India’s largest cleft care NGO, Smile Train India and the Health and Family Welfare Department of West Bengal signed a MoU to renew their successful partnership which has helped to provide free surgical care to and benefitted more than 3000 children born with clefts in West Bengal since 2013. The partnership has been renewed till 31 March 2023. Through the 3-year public-private partnership, children with untreated clefts will be identified by Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) Mobile Health Teams in communities, Government or Govt. aided schools and Anganwadi Centers and referred to the district nodal officer (Dy CMOH III). The District Nodal Officer will then refer the case to the nearest Smile Train India partner hospital for free cleft lip and palate surgeries and post-operative care.
“Our partnership with Smile Train India has been a very successful one. Since 2013, more than 3000 children born with cleft have been provided free and safe cleft treatment. We are sure that in the next three years, we will together scale up the partnership and benefit thousands of more cleft children”, said Dr Ajay Chakraborty, Director of Health Services, Health and Family Welfare Department, Government of West Bengal.
