Do you know one of the most common facial malformations found in children in India is cleft lip and palate? Approximately 27,000-30,000 children in India are born with the defect every year. This accounts for 1 in every 700 live births happening with a cleft lip or palate. 

A cleft palate is an opening in the mouth's roof that causes a gap and divides the nose and mouth. It is formed due to an incomplete development of the lip or palate in the early weeks of pregnancy. Children with malformation are forced to live isolated lives and face difficulty in breathing, eating, speaking, and hearing. 

Though treatment is available for cleft lip and palate in India, inequalities exist in access and quality of health care between urban and rural areas. Lack of awareness and access to good healthcare are some causes that children in remote regions of India remain untreated.

Recently, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Bina Refinery (BL) took an initiative for children born with cleft lip. They collaborated with Smile Train which is the world's largest organization working for children with cleft to support surgeries of some children belonging to underserved communities. The initiative was held in Sagar district, Madhya Pradesh.

The Start

Children born with cleft lip and palate face various challenges in eating and speaking which isolate them from normal kids and society. Such children are prone to ear infections, hearing loss, and poor or abnormal teeth development. The stress of medical care and the way they look lead to various societal, behavioural, and emotional problems among kids at an early age. 

BPCL is a leading organization in the Indian oil and petroleum sector. As a market leader, the company understands its responsibility towards the community. The company has been working effortlessly for society's well-being through education, health, environment sustainability, cleanliness, skills development, and employment. 

BPCL makes efforts to maximize the positive impact of its CSR activities on society. Bina Refinery is BPCL's top refinery known for advanced technology and fuel production in India. It has partnered with BPCL for the CSR activity of facilitating surgeries for kids with cleft lip and palate.

Smile Train is the world's largest NGO that works in the field of cleft surgeries and essential care. The organization has been working for more than 25 years in healthcare and has supported free cleft surgeries for more than 2 million children worldwide. The partnership of BPCL and Bina refinery with Smile Train to facilitate cleft surgeries in Sagar district is a remarkable move to change children's lives.

Efforts

The collaboration of BPCL and BL with Smile Train was done to support surgeries of children from underprivileged sections in the Sagar district with cleft lip and palate. The surgeries were a life-changing moment for the children and their families as thereafter they could lead a normal life. 

The program also includes conducting awareness campaigns in the area about the cleft lip and palate. The volunteers conducted camps to educate the local populations about cleft, clear myths related to it, and accelerate the identification of children with cleft and their treatment across 12 tehsils of Sagar district.  

They also organized camps to detect cleft patients with ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activists) workers. The aim was to empower local health workers and assist them in treating patients. This was mainly done to ensure that the project continues for the long term.

The combined efforts of BPCL, BL, and Smile Train include enhancing healthcare access and medical infrastructure in remote areas for the underprivileged sections.

The project offered financial support to the weaker sections of society who cannot afford to treat cleft lip and palate. The long-standing efforts of the organizations involved are reflected in their commitment to improving children’s lives with cleft lip.

Impact Created

The joint project initiated by BPCL, BL, and Smile Train for conducting surgeries on children with cleft lip and palate has given such children the privilege of living normal lives. The project has helped the children gain the normal appearance of the upper lip and nose of the kids. 

The surgery conducted under the project has helped restore the function of lips and mouth which improves children's ability to eat, breathe, drink, and speak. They are less prone to ear infections leading to improved health conditions and better speech. 

The improved appearance has raised the self-esteem of kids, and they do not have to live an isolated life. They can live their lives normally with other children.

Additionally, the project has also improved the healthcare status of the underprivileged sections of Sagar district who cannot afford to treat their children with cleft lip. 

The project has educated the local people and raised their awareness about cleft lip and palate. It has cleared people's doubts and myths related to the defect. It has empowered health workers in the region to quickly identify cleft cases and start their treatment. The free and quality cleft treatment and care provided in the project have transformed the lives of many children across the Sagar district. 

Way Forward

In the future, the collaboration aims to support surgeries of around 70 children by March 2025. BPCL and BL have always supported initiatives that uplift the communities, especially the weaker sections. The companies have always been committed to bringing about social change through initiatives in various fields. 

BPCL has supported the community through improved literacy and education, water conservation efforts, advanced healthcare interventions through financial and improved medical infrastructure, and skills development by providing skills training to women, unemployed youth, and disabled people.  The company promises to be a part of such initiatives in the future that support the weaker communities and raise their living standards.

Smile Train has always been committed to offering free surgery and medical care to underprivileged sections especially children born with cleft lip and palate. It has always participated in campaigns that support children's surgeries. The organization is determined to continue its efforts to carry out surgeries and support needy children born with the defect.