Smile Train / Cleft Palate Surgery

Giving Children a Second Chance at Life

Understanding Cleft Defects

A gap in the upper lip is known as a cleft, one of the most common forms of birth defects among humans. It is estimated that one child in every 700 births is affected by this condition. A cleft results in a visible facial deformity and creates significant challenges for the child.

Impact on Children and Families

Children born with cleft defects often face severe difficulties in eating, speaking, and hearing. If left untreated, the condition can lead to lifelong physical hardship and social exclusion. In many societies, affected children are marginalized and condemned to live as social outcasts. Despite being a tragic condition, a cleft is among the few birth defects that can be effectively corrected through surgery, often in as little as 45 minutes.

The Challenge in Developing Countries

Although surgical correction is relatively simple, poverty and lack of awareness prevent timely treatment. It is estimated that over 60% of cleft cases remain untreated in poor and underdeveloped countries, leaving millions of children without access to life-changing care.

The Smile Train Initiative

The Smile Train is a global charitable organization dedicated to providing free cleft surgery to children in need. It began its mission in 1999, with a single surgery in China, performed by a local medical team. Since then, it has grown into the largest cleft-focused organization in the world.

Mission and Approach

The core objective of The Smile Train is to make safe, high-quality, and free cleft treatment accessible to children in developing countries. The organization works exclusively with local doctors and medical teams, promoting sustainability by offering free training and education to help build self-sufficient healthcare systems.

Impact in India

The Smile Train has made a significant impact in India by training more than 1,100 doctors and sponsoring over 1,60,000 cleft surgeries. Through these efforts, countless children have been given the opportunity to lead normal, dignified lives.

A Second Chance at Life

The mission of The Smile Train goes beyond restoring smiles. It seeks to provide children with renewed confidence, dignity, and hope, enabling them to participate fully in society and pursue a better future.

Commemorative Postage Stamp

India Post is pleased to issue a Commemorative Postage Stamp on “The Smile Train – Cleft Surgery”, acknowledging the organization’s humanitarian service and its remarkable contribution to transforming the lives of children across the world.