Operation Smile to provide free corrective surgical treatment

The NGO providing free corrective surgeries to those born with cleft lip, cleft palate and other deformities, with the support of Tata Steel is organising its first ever International Cleft Care Mission here from April 19 to April 26.

A team of 40 Operation Smile volunteers from the US, Japan, Canada, Sweden, the Philippines and India would be here and work at city-based Hi-tech Hospital to provide free surgical treatment to patients, Director (Partnerships), Operation Smile India, Dalip Pande told reporters here.

The entire process of treatment, including hospitalisation and medicines would be provided at no cost to patients from various parts of Odisha, he said. For outstation patients travelling to Bhubaneswar for treatment, Operation Smile would facilitate and organise food and lodging, Pande said.

The medical volunteer team consisting of plastic surgeons, pediatrician, nurses, speech therapists, dentists and child life counsellors would conduct medical examinations of patients on April 19. After all diagnostic tests and medical evaluations, patients would be scheduled for surgery between April 21 and April 26, Pande and Hridayeshwar Jha, vice president of Tata Steel`s Odisha project said.

Being the local hospital partner of the project, Hi-tech hospital will provide infrastructure including patient wards, examination facilities and operation suites free of cost, hospital Chairman Tirupati Panigrahi said.