NEW DELHI: Smile Train, the world’s largest cleft-focused NGO, released an in-depth assessment report today showcasing the transformative impact of Smile Train’s cleft care interventions across the country in twenty years. Compiling data collected by consulting firm KPMG. The report deployed three research methodologies to get a holistic view of the social impact of Smile Train’s programs supporting cleft care over two decades. The report also highlights the USD 16 billion impact created in India through Smile Train’s investment in cleft treatment since 2000.

Since 2000, Smile Train has supported more than Seven Lakh cleft surgeries across India. The key findings from the study reinforce that Smile Train’s program in India is aligned with global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and national priorities. It demonstrates the positive impact of Smile Train’s support in improving access to cleft treatment, enhancing hospital infrastructure, and positively influencing patients’ quality of life. All respondents indicated that Smile Train India’s support was crucial in addressing the challenges faced by individuals with clefts and their families.

Susannah Schaefer,  Executive Vice Chair, President & CEO of Smile Train, stated, “As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of Smile Train’s founding as a global nonprofit, I want to take a moment to reflect on two-and-a-half decades of remarkable achievements. Since its inception, our goal has always been to provide comprehensive and sustainable cleft care. To commemorate this milestone, we commissioned two significant studies: an Economic Impact Study to analyze our work’s impact on the global economy, and the India-specific Quality of Life and Impact Report to understand how our support has impacted the lives of individuals with clefts and their families. The findings underscore the importance of our work and the need to continue expanding our reach to underserved communities as well as create a sustainable cleft infrastructure with critical partnerships and training.”

Speaking at the occasion, Mamta Carroll, Senior Vice President, and Regional Director of Asia, Smile Train said, “We are immensely proud to present Smile Train India’s “Quality of Life and Impact Report,” which encapsulates 20 years of our transformative work and its profound impact on the lives of countless individuals, including the medical community. This report marks a significant milestone in our unwavering commitment to equitable cleft care across India. The findings highlight Smile Train’s pivotal role in bridging gaps in cleft care, from improving medical infrastructure to supporting underserved communities.”

The cleft is a gap in the upper lip and/or the roof of the mouth (palate) and is a facial birth difference that affects one in 700 babies. An untreated cleft condition not only leads to facial differences in appearance, but health challenges related to eating, breathing, hearing, and speaking. Many children with clefts get bullied in schools and colleges and end up living in isolation.

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Speakers took center stage to offer powerful and inspiring personal stories about overcoming obstacles and finding the strength to become confident individuals and lead full lives. The event included sessions with a focus on critical conversations on emotional, medical, and logistical issues concerning clefts.

Actor Sarika Singh, Keynote Speaker for the event, shared her cleft journey publicly for the first time. The event brought together known faces such as Tapan Singhel, CEO & Managing Director, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance, Mrs. Shefali Bajaj, Chairperson, CSR Steering Committee, Bajaj Finserv Ltd, Instagram stars Dimple Arora and Tania Mittal, international and national medical experts, along with other cleft warriors, and cleft parents from diverse backgrounds. The event was attended by 200+ people in person and hundreds watched the online live stream of the event.

At the event, Dr Shrirang Pandit, Chief of Plastic Surgery, at Poona Hospital said, “Cleft Con India marks itself as an exemplary platform for the cleft community, by the cleft community. Smile Train has so far completed 53000 successful cleft surgeries in Maharashtra with 11 partner hospitals. The several #CleftSeConfidenceTak stories that you hear today are a result of the wonderful support that the organization has extended toward cleft beneficiaries and their families in the country. Poona Hospital has managed to train to perfection surgeons and doctors to ensure comprehensive care for the cleft born with Smile Train India’s support.”

Speaking at the event, Mamta Carroll, Smile Train’s Senior Vice President and Regional Director for Asia said, “With the theme of #CleftSeConfidenceTak, the second edition of Cleft Con India shares journeys of individuals with clefts to reduce stigma and build the narrative for timely, comprehensive cleft intervention. By facilitating Cleft Con India, Smile Train aims to foster a sense of community for cleft-affected individuals and their families, bring forth powerful personal journeys, and create empathy for those born with a facial difference.”

In India, more than 35,000 children are born with a cleft condition annually. Many of them are bullied, ostracized, or isolated. If left untreated, clefts can cause numerous health issues including difficulty with eating, hearing, and speaking. Smile Train India recently marked their 700,000th cleft surgery milestone, reaching children in need through a network of 150+ partner hospitals across the country. The NGO continues to expand its network of medical partners, donors, and supporters via its sustainable model of cleft care.

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