Cleft lip and cleft palate are birth defects that occur when a baby’s lip or mouth do not form properly. In India at least 35000 children are born with this defect every year and majority of them are male children. Due to lack of awareness 50 pc of the children are left untreated, though surgeries can restore the normal function.
Dr. D Mukund Reddy is engaged in operating such children belonging to poor families free of cost. He has been doing the surgery for the past 17 years. He says every year he operates atleast 1200 children under Smile Train Project.
To attract parents having one-year-old children with the problem of cleft palate, an incentive scheme has been introduced under which Rs.3,000 in the case of girl child and Rs. 2,000 for male child will be deposited at the time of surgery. The amount will be doubled after 5 years and parents can withdraw the same on maturity.
Dr. Reddy advised expecting mothers to take sufficient amount of vitamin C and other vitamins to prevent their child from the problem.
Parents of children with the problem cleft lip and palate can reach Dr. Mukund Reddy at Baswatarakam, Indo American Cancer Hospital, Road No 10, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad. They can bring smiles to their children’s faces.
Mohammed Riyaz Ahmed