Protect 500 Cleft Kids from Covid-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on people's lives worldwide. Children, in particular, have been severely affected by the pandemic, with their education, mental health, and physical health being impacted. The project "Protect 500 Kids from COVID-19" aims to protect children from the COVID-19 virus through the distribution of masks, sanitizers, and education on prevention measures.

It is estimated that 1 in 700 children in India is born with this Cleft deformity. Every year around 35,000 infants are born with this painful yet correctable condition.

1 in 10 such infant born with cleft don’t make it to 1^st birthday due to acute malnutrition and other medical complications. We at Mission Smile are committed to change 3500 such lives annually and seek the partial support and funding to reach this target.

Cleft deformities deprive children of a life of dignity and opportunity. Despite cleft being a medical condition; it has serious social and emotional implications in the life of the concerned child. There have been known cases of abandoning, disowning, selling, isolation and ostracisation of children with cleft. Moreover, there are cases of school dropouts because of ridicule or lack of friends mingling with them or any other reasons that might cause mental stress and trauma preventing cleft children from attending schools. This ultimately results in their ending up unemployed or taking up menial jobs in the future.

Though cleft is a corrective deformity, yet access to quality care and treatment is very low. Without adequate treatment, these children struggle to speak, eat, and participate in society. Trapped within their own bodies, they miss education and livelihood opportunities, and remain in the periphery of their society, deprived of basic human dignity.

On the positive side this is a deformity which has a proven solution, a solution which can take as little as a 45-minute surgical procedure at the right facility with trained medical personnel.

One such story of these 3 sibling which were operated succesfully in our Medical Mission in Shillong, India

We are pleased to inform you that we have successfully completed 500+ surgeries in this financial year 2022-23 and are hoping to complete 3000+ surgeries in the year. 

We are grateful for all the support and contribution made to our project, each dollar contributed has changed a life forever. We are providing free comprehensive cleft care with world class medical safety and protocols. 

Covid19 have changed a lot of things and our cleft kids also faced many changelleges, with surgeries coming to halt. A huge backlog of cases have piled up in the last couple of years. 

We seek your support, help and donation to provide these life changing surgeries!

We thank each one of you for your generous support and contribution in this Project. 

Last couple of years have been really difficult for the world with Covid19 looming alwaying in our lives. This time have been particulary difficult four our cleft kids. They are due to thier deformities already a high risk section, and covid-19 have delayed care to them, with lockdowns, burden on health services, suspension of elective surgeries contributed to a huge backlog of cases. 

Your support today is needed more than ever, We have delivered more than 300+ surgeries in last 90 days and gave committed to serve and spread smiles to another 3000 kids in next 12 months. We seek your whole hearted support for this. 

Thank You!

Soham’s parents, who live in Dibrugarh, Assam, were expecting their second child. When Shoham’s father Mohanjyoti took him in his arms, his heart filled with emotions like any other father. The baby was lovely, and their anxieties of what others thought of them faded away. He was their child, and in their eyes, he was perfect. However, Shoham couldn’t eat or drink properly because of his cleft, and he also struggled to breastfeed since milk spilt out of his nose and mouth.

He was born with a congenital condition – Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate, and their happiness started turning to concern. Finally, his parents accepted the reality and decided to make their child smile like everyone else. They began seeking a solution and vowed to do all in their ability to make their child’s future happier and healthier.

Mohanjyoti was unable to afford specialized medical care for their child since he worked in a private company. So without wasting time, the couple searching for treatment went to Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram and got to know about Mission smile. At Mission Smile, they learnt about cleft treatment and that Shoham will receive free cleft treatment at Mission Smile cleft treatment program.

At Mission smile, Shoham had his surgery at six months old and recovered brilliantly. Apart from a small scar, he really wouldn’t know he’d ever had a cleft. The baby had two operations, first for cleft lip and further surgery for cleft Palate.
After the surgery, Sohma’s parents were overwhelmed to see the change in Shoham’s face, and the beautiful smile on his face took their heart. We wish Shoham all the best in his future and achieve all his dreams.
The surgeons and the whole Cleft team are exceptional and are supportive, shared Manashjyoti.

At Mission Smile, we help every family with a baby born with Cleft condition irrespective of anything. Moreover, we promise every child born with cleft free comprehensive and corrective surgery.

We thank our volunteers and donors who came forward to make it possible to give magical smiles to children suffering from cleft lip and cleft palate. Would you mind donating to support our cause?