Affordability

SMILE TRAIN

One in every 600 children is born with this abnormality, the exact cause of which is still unknown, occurs during the face-forming stage of the foetus development. Most of these births occur to mal-nourished mothers. Most of these families cannot afford the treatment cost that ranges between Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 25,000 depending upon the complexity of the abnormality. The child grows in to an adult with great societal disadvantage and medical vulnerability.

The greatest tragedy is that all of these children are suffering not because they were born with a cleft, but because they were born poor. Too poor to pay for a simple cure that has been around for decades.

Helping these children is the mission of SMILE TRAIN PROJECT. We help provide free cleft surgery and related treatment for children who would otherwise never receive it.

With every cleft we repair, we restore a life.
With every smile we deliver, we bring hope and dignity.

The SMILE-TRAIN, a USA based Charitable Organisation made CARE Foundation-CARE Hospital as one of its world-wide partner. It offered an assistance of Rs. 7,500 per surgery. CARE Foundation and CARE Hospital provide the balance expenditure so that surgery can be done at no cost to the family.

Initiated in January 2004 with Dr Y Venkat Rao noted Plastic Surgeon the Project organised camps at Amalapuram, Jagityal, Vijayawada and Mahaboobnagar to identify children who can be benefited. More than 100 children have so far received free treatment at the CARE Hospital under this procedure at no cost to them.

Amalapuram	Jagityal

Vijayawada	Mahaboobnagar

The CARE Foundation celebrated the event of completing 100th case on 12th August 2004 in the distinguished presence of Most Rev. Father Marampudi Joji, Arch Bishop of Hyderabad.

Dr Y Venkat Rao, Arch Bishop Joji and Prof. Arun K Tiwari

Dr B Soma Raju, Dr Y Venkat Rao, Arch Bishop Joji and Dr P Krishnam Raju