M’laya has around 3000 people suffering with cleft lips

A Correspondent

Shillong, January 18: Operation Smile India (OSI) has conducted 500 surgeries on people suffering from cleft lip and palate.

“We have been working for the people of Meghalaya since January 2013 and done successful surgery for more than 500 patients and there is an estimated back log of over 3000 patients in Meghalaya,” OSI Mager, Dipul Malakar said.

According to Malakar, surgery from Operation Smile is absolutely free of cost, and free accommodation including medical expenses and examition is being taken care of at the permanent centre in Guwahati, at the campus of the Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital in Pan Bazar, Guwahati. Malakar said that since Meghalaya does not have permanent centre, transportation is provided to patients to go to Guwahati.

Operation Smile has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Meghalaya Government in 2013.

“According to the MOU the Health Department Meghalaya and with the support of NRHM we are supposed to give the free cleft lip, cleft palate surgery to the people of Meghalaya,” Malakar informed.

On Saturday, a free pre–screening test by the Operation Smile was conducted at Civil Hospital, Shillong. OSI has selected at least 19 persons from Meghalaya, mostly children, for the surgery.