A cleft lip and cleft palate are defects in a baby’s upper lip or roof of their mouth (palate). They’re congenital abnormalities (birth defects) that form during development of foetus. Cleft lips and cleft palates happen when tissues of the upper lip and roof of the mouth don’t join together properly during fetal development.
In most cases, there’s no known cause of cleft lip or cleft palate, and parents can’t prevent it. Most scientists believe a combination of genetic (inherited) and environmental (folic acid deficiency, smoking, anti-seizure medications etc) factors cause clefts.
It is estimated that 60,000 babies are born with facial cleft defect and craniofacial deformity in India each year. In Odisha, there are more than 1500 patients with cleft lip, palate and facial deformities born every year.
Apart from the facial defect, they suffer from swallowing, feeding and speech issues. If they are unlucky, they are quietly killed. If they are fortunate, they are abandoned. They are otherwise normal children who can do all activities like other kids,except for one shortcoming, the deformed face which has serious implications to mental and social health because of their facial deformity. They are socially ostracized and parents, relatives, friends often ridicule them.
Dr. Nitin Doshi from an Indian born dentist based out of USA started his own charity called DOSHISMILES, USA have collaborated with Inga Health Foundationwhich is a charitable organization from Mangalore have taken up the initiative to help provide funding and services to people of Odisha. Together, they have collaborated with BLUE WHEEL Hospital, at Manchewar, Bhubaneswar to provide FREE treatment to all children and adults suffering from this serious defect.
Inga Health founded by Prof. Krishna Rao has aimed at treating the less fortunate children born with facial deformities like cleft lip and palate. Over the years, Inga Health which runs 5 state-of-the-art centres for skull & facial deformities across the country has provided services in different states of India including Kashmir and have equipped with a highly trained team to provide surgical treatment and follow up therapy all-round the year.
In addition to free surgery DOSHI SMILE, Inga Health along with BLUWHEEL hospital shall provide free stay, food, medications and transportation to all needy patients who otherwise would never have been able to smile. Orthodontic, Dental care and speech therapy etc shall also be provided at Blue Wheel Hospital, Bhubaneswar. Prof (Dr) Sobhan Mishra and his team shall be in charge and Centre director at the Blue wheel hospital for rendering the services
The objective is to inform and propagate the idea of help extended by DOSHISMILE, USA and INGA health that focuses exclusively in treating the most complex of skull and facial deformities to all the affected children of the state of Odisha.
