About Smile train
Smile Train: Transforming Lives of Babies Born with Cleft Lip and Palate
Smile Train is a non-profit organization that has been transforming the lives of babies born with cleft lip and palate for over 20 years. The organization was founded in 1999 by Brian Mullaney and Charles B. Wang, who were inspired to make a difference after witnessing the struggles faced by children with clefts in developing countries.
Cleft lip and palate is a common birth defect that affects millions of children worldwide. It occurs when the tissues that form the lips and mouth do not fuse properly during fetal development, resulting in a gap or opening. This can cause difficulties with feeding, speaking, hearing, breathing, and socializing.
Smile Train's mission is to provide free cleft surgery and comprehensive care to children in need around the world. The organization partners with local medical professionals to train them on how to perform safe and effective surgeries using modern techniques. Smile Train also provides essential equipment, supplies, medications, transportation assistance, nutritional support, speech therapy, dental care, psychosocial services and more.
Since its inception Smile Train has transformed over one million lives through its programs across more than 90 countries worldwide including Africa (Nigeria), Asia (India), South America (Peru) etc., making it one of the largest cleft charities globally.
One of Smile Train's unique approaches is its focus on empowering local medical professionals rather than relying solely on foreign aid workers or volunteers from developed countries. By training local doctors nurses dentists etc., Smile train ensures that sustainable solutions are created within communities where they work which leads to long-term impact beyond just providing surgeries.
The organization also recognizes that surgery alone does not solve all problems associated with clefts; therefore it provides comprehensive care for patients throughout their entire journey from diagnosis through treatment until full recovery which includes speech therapy sessions as well as psychological support for both patients & families affected by this condition.
In addition to providing direct patient care services Smile train also advocates for policy changes at national levels so as to ensure access to quality healthcare services especially for those living in remote areas where access may be limited due lack of infrastructure or resources available locally such as rural areas within developing nations like India Nigeria Peru etc..
Furthermore smile train works closely with other organizations such as UNICEF WHO World Bank among others towards achieving universal health coverage goals set forth under Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agenda adopted by United Nations General Assembly back in September 2015 which aims at ensuring healthy lives promoting well-being all ages while reducing inequalities among different populations globally including those affected by congenital anomalies like cleft lip/palate defects.
In conclusion,
Smile Train has been instrumental in transforming countless lives around the world through its innovative approach towards addressing issues related congenital anomalies like cleft lip/palate defects.
By partnering up with local medical professionals training them on modern surgical techniques while providing essential equipment supplies medications transportation assistance nutritional support speech therapy dental care psychosocial services among others smile train ensures sustainable solutions are created within communities where they work leading long-term impact beyond just providing surgeries.
Through advocacy efforts aimed at policy changes national levels working closely alongside other organizations towards achieving universal health coverage goals set forth under SDGs agenda adopted United Nations General Assembly back September 2015 smile trains continues making strides improving quality life individuals families affected this condition globally thereby creating brighter futures generations come!