Jowai, Nov 10: Thirty out of 40 children have been identified to undergo cleft lip surgery from tomorrow in Jaintia Hills.
These children—22 from West Jaintia Hills and eight from East Jaintia Hills—were were examined during an ongoing screening cum surgery camp organised by the District Early Intervention Centre (DEIC) – RBSK, Jaintia Hills in collaboration with Mission Smile, Guwahati, which was inaugurated today at the Dr. Norman Tunnel Hospital in Jowai.
Cleft lip is recognised as the second most common congenital deformity in India, affecting one in every 700 children. This statistic translates to approximately 35,000 new cases annually, highlighting the urgent need for medical attention.
The surgeries will be led by well-known cleft lip surgeons of the country, Dr. Hitiesh Sharma, who has performed over 8,000 surgeries. He will be assisted by his team comprising of Dr. Kushboo, Dr. Sweeth, Dr. Parna, Dr, Kayal and nurses.
CEO of Mission Smile Conrad Dennis emphasised the organisation’s commitment to transforming young lives, stating that each surgery not only mends a lip but also helps an entire family and community. He reflected on the old proverb, saying, “Little drops of water, little grains of sand make a mighty ocean.”
“Mission Smile believes that gifting smiles to children born with cleft lips and palates is truly a work of God. When we repair a lip or palate not just the child but the whole family and community smiles. We are giving smiles and transforming lives,” he said.
RBSK State Nodal Officer Dr I Gatphoh informed that more than 326 surgeries have been completed under this partnership for the Jaintia region.
She said that under the RBSK, also known as Child Health Screening and Intervention Services programme, the initiative represents a remarkable step forward in providing corrective surgeries and specialised care for children.
This program not only restores their smiles but also gives them renewed confidence and the opportunity to lead healthier, happier lives, she added.
Gatphoh said the primary objective of RBSK is to ensure early identification and timely management of health conditions among children from birth to 18 years of age, focusing on defects at birth, deficiencies, and development delays including disabilities. She said the aim is to reach every child, detecting conditions early and providing free treatment through dedicated referral and supportive service delivered by mobile health teams.
