The Border Security Force (BSF) recently organised a medical camp for children and adults suffering from cleft lips.
Corrective surgeries were performed free of cost at the two-day long medical camp in Salbagan in West Tripura District.
At the camp, 14 people, including children and other persons with cleft lips and palates were operated upon by doctors.
All patients were from poor families and the funds for organizing the surgical and medical camp was provided by Smile Train.
Smile Train, founded in 2000, is an international charity that helps children with cleft lips.
Dr. Kamlesh Kothari, a surgeon with Smile Train, said: "The most important cleft charity in the world which is the biggest cleft charity in the world is Smile Train. So, I represent the Smile Train project in India where we conduct this surgery free of cost. As a matter of fact, we are able to get the patient from the district or from the remote part of the country to the hospital."
Such camps have been held in the past as well. The initiative gives both adults and children a new lease of life, and a smile on their faces.
Abia Khatun, the mother of one of the patients, said: "The BSF personnel saw my daughter and told me that she would be cured after surgery. So, I came here with my daughter. I belong to Kailasahar. We are poor, so, we cannot afford the cost of surgery. But now, the BSF is helping us and we are very happy."
Absajal Mog, a patient's father, said: "The BSF has made all the arrangements, right from surgery to transportation, food and other things. We did not spend any thing. My son had a cleft lip and earlier I did not know that BSF conducts such operations. But when I came to know about this free camp, I brought my son here. I am very happy, I cannot express it in words."
North East India has the highest number of cases of cleft lips and palates.
According to experts, about 30,000 children in India are born with cleft lips and palates every year and less than 50 per cent of them go for treatment.
