Muthoot Pappachan Foundation, the CSR arm of Muthoot Pappachan Group in association with Operation Smile India, a non-profit medical charity organisation, today announced the launch of 'Smile Please'.
This campaign which will help create awareness on cleft issues and free cleft lip or cleft palate surgery among children.
The campaign was inaugurated by Malayalam film actor Dileep in the presence of Thomas George Muthoot, Director, Muthoot Pappachan Group, Thomas Muthoot, Executive Director, Muthoot Pappachan Group and Dalip Pande, Director Partnerships, Operation Smile India at a function here.
Further to the success of the first leg of the recent in Kottayam, the team is all set to take forward this program at different locations, Thomas Muthoot said.
Muthoot Pappachan Foundation and Operation Smile had just concluded the first free Surgery Mission at Muthoot Lifebrigade Hospital, Kottayam, in which more than 100 patients were screened. Post screening surgeries were done for more than 50 children as on today, he said.
Muthoot Pappachan Foundation is also going ahead to conduct free surgery for 300 children with cleft lip/palate at Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu during this Financial Year. A Mission for 50+ children is scheduled during January 11-18, 2015 and another 250 patients will be provided free surgeries year through. These services can be accessed by patients from both Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Thomas Muthoot, Executive Director, Muthoot Pappachan Group said, "We are overwhelmed by the response received during our first leg of the program just concluded in Kottayam this week. It's unfortunate that individuals born with cleft lip and/or palate are often stigmatised and face much psychosocial adversities.
Social attitudes and beliefs have a direct impact upon the psychological development of these individuals.
