
Smile Train
Smile Train is the largest cleft charity of the world based in New York City of USA with the mission of providing free corrective surgery to poor children with cleft lip and palate in about 87 developing countries. Founded in 1999, Smile Train also focuses on providing free cleft-related training to doctors and medical professionals. It has so far provided more than 8,45,000 free surgeries through its 1100 partner hospitals throughout the world. Smile Train uses technology including surgery-training software and grading of operations via digital imaging to increase efficiency. Compared to other cleft charities Smile Train is unique because it involves local surgeons and provides most cost effective cleft surgery ensuring maximum utilization of fund.
Formation | : | 1999 |
Type | : | |
Headquarter | : | New York, USA |
Chairman & Co-Founder | : | Charles B. Wang |
Executive Director | : | Priscilla Ma |
Website | : |
One Charity. One Problem. One Goal.
Mission of Smile Train:
- Provide free cleft surgery to thousands of poor children in developing countries.
- Train local doctors and medical professionals for quality reconstructive surgery.
- Treat the “whole child” with comprehensive, total rehabilitative care including: speech therapy, general dentistry and orthodontics.
Unlike many charities that do many different things, Smile Train’s mission is focused on solving a single problem: cleft lip and cleft palate.
Clefts are a major problem in developing countries where there are millions of children who are suffering with unrepaired clefts. Most cannot eat or speak properly. They aren’t allowed to attend school or hold a job and face very difficult lives filled with shame and isolation, pain and heartache. Their clefts usually go untreated because they are poor – too poor to pay for a simple surgery that has been around for decades. The good news is every single child with a cleft can be helped with surgery that costs as little as $250 but patients cost nothing.
We want our mission to be yours.
Bangladesh:
Bangladesh is a developing country in south Asia region with a population of over 150 million. More than 4,000 cleft children born each year in this country. A number of cleft charities of home and abroad are working here. Government health service is also working in this field and gives free service to cleft children. But this is not enough. From December, 2003, Smile Train has been continuing works in Bangladesh. At present there are 10 centers and 4 outreach centers spread across the country. Over 20,000 cleft patients have been so far provided free of cost reconstructive surgery through Smile Train in Bangladesh.
Mr. Mostafizur Rahman is the Country Manager of Smile Train here devoted to increase and ensure safe, quality and free surgery facilities throughout the country bringing smiles to thousands of unfortunate children who need our help.
Smile Train CARe Hospital Cleft Project:
Smile Train CARe Hospital Cleft Project in Dhaka began its free cleft service in October 2011 under dynamic leadership of Prof. Dr. Bijoy Krishna Das. Till September 2016 more than 3,000 surgeries have been performed in this center with many more waiting for surgery. Personally Prof. Dr. Bijoy Krishna Das. performed more than 4,000 cleft surgeries by September 2016.
Our Service:
Free Cleft Surgery | ||
Speech therapy | ||
Team Members | : |
|
Project Director | : | Prof. Dr. Bijoy Krishna Das |
Anesthetist | : | Prof. Dr. Rezaul Islam (Firoz) |
Assistant Surgeons | : | Dr. Abhi Kumar Chakraborty Dr. Imrul Hassan Warsi Dr Rashedul Mughni Chowdhury |
Maxillofacial Surgeon |
| Dr. Nadimul Islam |
Speech Therapist |
| Miss. Nazma |
Nurse |
| Mrs. Khadiza Begum |