<p>Smile Train, a US-based NGO, on Friday partnered with Medanta Hospital to treat patients with cleft lip. <br /><br /></p>.<p>This is the seventh hospital in Delhi where children will be treated free of cost with the help of the NGO.<br /><br />“In collaboration with Smile Train, we will offer free surgeries to needy patients with cleft lip and palate,” said Dr Trehan of Medanta Hospital.<br /><br />Other hospitals in the city where the facility is already available are Ganga Ram Sant Parmanand, Jaipur Golden, Maharaja Agrasen, Mata Chanan Devi, St Stephen’s and Sunder Lal Jain.<br /><br />“We have not collaborated with any government hospital in Delhi because the treatment for cleft lip is already provided free of charge there,” said Renu Gupta, programme director, India.<br /><br />The NGO will reimburse a certain amount to the hospital per surgery and surgeons <br />will charge fee at a subsidised rate. <br /><br />A child born with cleft lip has to be at least three-month-old for the first surgery. Surgeons claim it is 100 per cent curable.<br /><br />Curable<br /><br />Cleft lip is caused by abnormal facial development while the child is still in the womb. <br /><br />In cleft lip, a gap occurs in the upper lip. It can take various forms. <br /><br />In most cases, patients cannot eat or speak properly and are discriminated in society. <br /><br />In India, over 30,000 children are born with cleft lip. <br /><br />Nearly 50 per cent of them remain untreated for lack of awareness on corrective surgeries and poor economic conditions.<br /><br /></p>
<p>Smile Train, a US-based NGO, on Friday partnered with Medanta Hospital to treat patients with cleft lip. <br /><br /></p>.<p>This is the seventh hospital in Delhi where children will be treated free of cost with the help of the NGO.<br /><br />“In collaboration with Smile Train, we will offer free surgeries to needy patients with cleft lip and palate,” said Dr Trehan of Medanta Hospital.<br /><br />Other hospitals in the city where the facility is already available are Ganga Ram Sant Parmanand, Jaipur Golden, Maharaja Agrasen, Mata Chanan Devi, St Stephen’s and Sunder Lal Jain.<br /><br />“We have not collaborated with any government hospital in Delhi because the treatment for cleft lip is already provided free of charge there,” said Renu Gupta, programme director, India.<br /><br />The NGO will reimburse a certain amount to the hospital per surgery and surgeons <br />will charge fee at a subsidised rate. <br /><br />A child born with cleft lip has to be at least three-month-old for the first surgery. Surgeons claim it is 100 per cent curable.<br /><br />Curable<br /><br />Cleft lip is caused by abnormal facial development while the child is still in the womb. <br /><br />In cleft lip, a gap occurs in the upper lip. It can take various forms. <br /><br />In most cases, patients cannot eat or speak properly and are discriminated in society. <br /><br />In India, over 30,000 children are born with cleft lip. <br /><br />Nearly 50 per cent of them remain untreated for lack of awareness on corrective surgeries and poor economic conditions.<br /><br /></p>
