Smile Train Celebrates 700,000 Life-Changing Free Cleft Surgeries in India

Smile Train, the global leader in cleft care, has reached an extraordinary milestone in India, providing over 700,000 free cleft surgeries to children in need. This remarkable achievement highlights Smile Train’s mission to provide safe, high-quality, and comprehensive cleft care to those who need it most.

Through partnerships with medical and government-led organizations, such as National Health Mission’s Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI), and National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH), Smile Train has driven early diagnosis and intervention for children with clefts and enhanced the safety and quality of surgical care at treatment centers across the country.

Susannah Schaefer, Smile Train’s President and CEO, expressed her pride in the achievement, saying, “We are incredibly proud to have reached this milestone and to have transformed the lives of so many children and families in India. Our focus for the future remains expanding our comprehensive programs to ensure access to safe, free, and high-quality cleft care for every child in need.” Through every surgery, Smile Train builds awareness, reduces stigma, and ensures acceptance for people with clefts in India and around the world.

This milestone is a testament to Smile Train’s commitment to changing lives and transforming communities through every surgery. The organization’s comprehensive approach to cleft care and its commitment to providing safe, free, and high-quality care to every child in need will continue to make a positive impact on society for years to come.