Smile Train, the world’s biggest cleft charity, brings together hundreds of people with clefts to empower, inspire, and develop a special sense of community.
On June 16th and 17th, about 400 individuals attended the two-day event, which was held both electronically and in person at Delhi’s India Habitat Centre.
Cleft Con India 2022, India’s first and largest forum for the cleft community, wrapped off today at the India Habitat Centre in Delhi.
Cleft Con India 2022 was the first event of its type in India, with fourteen sessions focusing on the medical, emotional, and logistical difficulties associated with cleft.
Speakers took the stage to share their personal tales on overcoming hurdles and finding fortitude in the face of adversity as a cleft patient.
Smile Train’s Senior Vice President and Regional Director for Asia, Mamta Carroll, said, “We aim to promote awareness and destigmatize cleft.”
“We’re fostering an encouraging and empowering environment for our cleft warriors. We want to emphasize that cleft is totally curable, and that we, as a community, are here to help.”
Every year, more than 35,000 children in India are born with a cleft palate. Bullying, ostracism, and isolation are common among them.
Cleft can cause a variety of health problems if left untreated, including trouble eating, hearing, and breathing.
“According to estimates, India has the highest rate of cleft births in the world.
Smile Train in India prioritizes removing barriers for people with cleft palates and ensuring that their medical, nutritional, and psychological needs are addressed “Smile Train’s President and CEO, Susannah Schaefer, stated.
“People were able to openly discuss their issues, experiences, and ambitions during Cleft Con India 2022. I’m happy of the people that took part, my coworkers, and our overall dedication to the cleft community.”
Smile Train recently celebrated 21 years of service in India, having assisted over 650,000 children in need of cleft surgery through a network of 150+ partner hospitals around the nation.
Through its sustainable methodology, the organization continues to grow its network of medical partners, contributors, and supporters, and is proud of its record of delivering free cleft treatment across the country.
About India’s Smile Train Smile Train provides training, financing, and resources to local medical experts so that they may give free cleft surgery and complete cleft care to children all around the world.
We work to develop a long-term solution and scalable global health model for cleft treatment, which will significantly improve children’s life, including their ability to eat, breathe, talk, and thrive.