GUWAHATI, Oct 19 � To provide free treatment to the patients, especially children suffering from cleft lip and palate, Smile Train and Shija Hospitals would launch a free treatment project at Guwahati in association with Pratiksha Hospital.
The �Smile Train Shija Cleft Project � Mission Guwahati� is an initiative taken to extend the facilities of the project to the people of Guwahati and nearby areas. Under the project free screening camps would be organized regularly for cleft patients of Guwahati. The Pratiksha Hospital would arrange free accommodation for the patients at its premises. Medicine and treatment would also be absolutely free of cost for the patients.
�There would be professional staff and travel desk to take care of the patients, assist them and also to plan their travel itinerary,� a press statement mentioned.
�In proportion to the current population of the State, the Mission Guwahati project expects at least 35,000 or more cleft patients, who are unable to avail treatment due to financial constraint or lack of awareness about the treatment facility. Under the Smile Train Shija Cleft Project � Mission Guwahati absolute free treatment would be given to patients with cleft lip and palate from the age of six months onwards,� the statement mentioned.
Any patient with cleft lip and palate problem can get themselves registered in the Pratiksha Hospital and collect details of the dates of camps etc. Camps would be conducted once in a month wherein plastic surgeon and anesthetist will come from Smile Train Shija Cleft Project and would deliver the service at Pratiksha Hospital. Post operative care would also be provided during such camps, the statement mentioned.
Smile Train is a New York based NGO, which has sponsored 2,50,000 surgeries across India since 2000, free of cost. Shija Hospital, Imphal has been recognized by Smile Train as partnered hospital from June 2006.
