NE HEALTH BUREAU
COIMBATORE, OCT 4
Ganga Hospital and Smile Train India, the country’s largest cleft focused NGO celebrated World Smile Day on Friday from 7pm by lighting up several heritage sites across India, including the Iconic Nilgiris Mountain Railway, Swiss Loco stationed at the Coimbatore Railway Station as part of their attempt to secure a new Guinness World Record Title.
Last year, Smile Train secured a Guinness World Records title for the most smiles uploaded to a digital photo album, celebrating the smiles of children whose lives were transformed by cleft surgery. This year’s attempt built on that success, illuminating landmarks in a powerful display of solidarity and support for children born with clefts, a condition that can cause difficulties with eating, breathing, and speaking.
- Commemorates the 25th anniversary of Smile Train on World Smile Day in India and is aimed at increasing the awareness of cleft lip and palate and the life changing care provided by Smile Train to cleft affected children globally.
- Illuminate iconic Nilgiris Mountain Railway, Swiss Loco stationed at the Coimbatore Railway Station
- Ganga Hospital has partnered with Smile Train from 2007 providing free surgery for cleft lip and palate patients. So far it has done over 2,200 surgeries on 1,500 patients
- Smile Train, in collaboration with seven treatment partner hospitals in Tamil Nadu, has supported nearly 40,000 cleft surgeries over the past two decades and remains committed to continuing this work until every child receives the care and treatment they deserve
This event also commemorates the 25th anniversary of Smile Train in India and is aimed at increasing the awareness of cleft lip and palate and the life changing care provided by Smile Train to cleft affected children globally.
Ganga Hospital has partnered with Smile Train from 2007 providing free surgery for cleft lip and palate patients. So far it has done over 2,200 surgeries on 1,500 patients.
This project also allows us to provide free nutrition counselling and nutritional supplements, speech therapy services and orthodontic treatment for all patients with cleft lip and palate. In addition, jaw corrective surgery and Rhinoplasty is also done for required patients. We have provided speech counselling and therapy for 250 patients, orthodontic treatment for 160 patients and nutritional counselling and supplements for 110 children.
We have a dedicated team of surgeons, nutritionists, orthodontist, speech therapist and social workers enabling us to provide a comprehensive care for these patients. For cleft treatment-related query kindly contact Dr Vimala on +91 9486255233 or our Social Worker Mr Nagaraj on +91 9965564423
Talking about this initiative, Dr. S. Raja Sabapathy, Plastic Surgeon and Smile Train Project Director at Ganga Medical Centre & Hospitals Private Ltd. said, “We are thrilled to participate in this remarkable global initiative, lighting up this iconic landmark to raise cleft awareness. These illuminations represent hope and strength, and through our collaboration with Smile Train, we remain dedicated to providing essential cleft care for children, empowering them to lead healthier and more joyful lives.”
Every year, more than 35,000 children are born with clefts in India. In addition to facing challenges with eating, breathing, and speaking, many are stigmatized due to a lack of awareness about cleft conditions. Smile Train, in collaboration with seven treatment partner hospitals in Tamil Nadu, has supported nearly 40,000 cleft surgeries over the past two decades and remains committed to continuing this work until every child receives the care and treatment they deserve.
Smile Train empowers local medical professionals with training, funding, and resources to provide free cleft surgery and comprehensive cleft care to children globally. We offer a sustainable solution and scalable global health model for cleft treatment, drastically improving children’s lives, including their ability to eat, breathe, speak, and ultimately thrive. Since 2000, Smile Train India has supported more than 7,50,000 free cleft surgeries across India, through a network of 125+ partner hospitals. To learn more about how Smile Train India’s sustainable approach, please visit.miletrainindia.org. For cleft treatment-related query or support, please call our toll-free helpline number: 1800 103 8301.
