Aligarh: The Aligarh Chapter of the Smile Train, an international organisation, which supports cleft treatment for patients from economically weaker sections of society who cannot afford to pay for the surgery or treatment, in association with the Rashtriya Bal Suraksha Karyakaram organised a national birth defect awareness programme at the Department of Plastic Surgery in Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College at Aligarh Muslim University.

Addressing the occasion, the Director of Smile Train - Aligarh Chapter, Prof Imran Ahmed highlighted the objectives and activities of the Smile Train and its collaborative work with the Dept of Plastic Surgery. He said the organization has helped millions of children affected by cleft lip and palate through surgeries free of cost worldwide. The department has also helped over 350 patients with Cleft lip and palate and brought back their smiles.

Prof Ahmed focused on the feeding advice of the affected individuals and how spreading awareness of such deformity can change someone’s life and heighten their confidence level. He urged to send a smile by taking a photograph of patient-to-patient with an advertising pamphlet for general awareness.

Earlier, welcoming the participants, the Chairman, the Department of Plastic Surgery, Dr M Fahud Khurram threw light on various birth defects like cleft lip and palate, congenital hand anomalies, hypospadias, etc. and emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts in tackling birth defects and supporting the affected individual. He also highlighted the ways for early prevention and early intervention which are available today under various schemes.

Munazir from the RBSK spoke about how RBSK is helping the affected individuals and their families, along with free transport services.

Dr S Sarfraz Ali extended a vote of thanks.