Muthoot Pappachan Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of Muthoot Pappachan Group has joined hands with Operation Smile India, a non-profit medical charity organisation, for providing free cleft lip surgeries to children.
The cleft care mission is being organised by Operation Smile India and the entire expenses for the surgeries are being sponsored by Muthoot Pappachan Foundation, a press release said.
Through this initiative, Muthoot Pappachan foundation aims to spread awareness and will sponsor free surgeries to 350 children suffering from Cleft Lip.
In the initial phase, the foundation is sponsoring free surgeries for 300 children at Richardson Dental and Craniofacial Hospital in Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu and 50 children at Muthoot Life Brigade Hospital in Kottayam in Kerala.
Popular Malayalam actor, Dileep, who had recently essayed the role of a cleft lip person in 'Sound Thoma' has promised cooperation with the Foundation in the programme.
Thomas John Muthoot, Chairman & Managing Director, Muthoot Pappachan Group, said the foundation was keen to create awareness about Cleft Lip in society and its cause which is due to poor nutrition levels of mothers during pregnancy.
There are an estimated 10 lakh untreated cases of clefts in India. Every year over 35,000 children in India are born with clefts.
Dalip Pande, Director Partnerships, Operation Smile India, said they would organise two cleft care missions - the first at the Life Brigade Hospital, Kottayam, from October 12-18 and the other in Nagercoil in January 2015.
