Mission Smile’s 1st Mission in Jaipur Transformed 41 Lives!

We are glad to announce our mission’s successful completion at Jaipur from 16th to 20th December 2017. It was our 3rd mission in Rajasthan. Though it was the 1st mission in the State partnered by Muthoot Fincorp Ltd. and the 1st mission in Jaipur. It was the 94th mission by Mission Smile.

A team comprising of 30 volunteers from India and abroad dedicatedly contributed to the success of our mission. They comprised the team from Manipal Hospital-Jaipur. Nine student volunteers from Australia and non-medical volunteers from Muthoot Fincorp Ltd- Rajasthan also joined the mission. Due to their cooperation and efforts, we could screen 72 patients. Out of that 41 clefts were transformed into smiles in just three days. We advised patients to come for post-operative check-ups for accomplishing the goal of comprehensive cleft care treatment. After continuous follow up for one week, 33 patients received postoperative medical care. All the patients are well and doing fine.

On 16th Dec, we had the inaugural ceremony of this mission. Dignitaries present were:

Mr Manish Mayank (Vice President, Muthoot Fincorp Ltd.),

Dr Vipin Jain (Chief of Clinical Services, Manipal Hospital Jaipur),

Mr Karthihaivelan (Unit Head, Manipal Hospital Jaipur),

Mr Ashok Shukla, (Regional Manager, Muthoot Fincorp Ltd. Jaipur),

Dr Prasanthkumar Nellickal (CSR Head, Muthoot Pappachan Foundation),

Shri Dalip Pande (Director Partnerships,  Mission Smile).

Many well-wishers of Mission Smile & dear volunteers were also present.

Our team came across a little girl Pushpa (1 year old). Her bright eyes and playful nature immediately caught our attention during the mission. Her parents Pawan Dhajesh and Kalawati, were distraught when they saw their first child born with a cleft deformity.

Being born to a low-income family in a small village Jogiwara of Banswara district in Rajasthan, proper surgery for Pushpa was a distant dream. Due to her cleft deformity, Pushpa faced constant problem while feeding. She behaved crankily due to not getting enough milk and being hungry. As a result, she started to suffer from malnutrition. Her parents took her to several hospitals, but as they couldn’t afford the high cost of treatment. They always returned with a broken heart. Her parents didn’t have the faintest idea that cleft could turn their situation so bad. The worst part was when her mother became mentally disturbed due to constant anxiety and nervousness.

The other family members and their relatives were not very accepting towards the baby because of her cleft deformity. They insulted the baby and her parents by saying that God had cursed them for their evil deeds! Pawan Dhajesh is a daily wager. He earns a meagre Rs. Five thousand per month. So it became more difficult for them to get the operation done in a private hospital. In December 2017, when Pushpa turned one, her parents saw an advertisement. It was on a banner about Mission Smile’s free surgical camp in Manipal Hospital Jaipur.

In the meantime, one of the branch officials from Muthoot Fincorp Ltd got hold of the family. Also, he arranged their transportation to visit Manipal Hospital to screen Pushpa by the Mission team. Pushpa’s parents immediately brought her to our camp, where she received her surgery. The parents were thrilled with our team’s surgical care, along with the warm hospitality.

The mission team managed to give a beautiful smile to this deserving baby. Mission Smile restored another family from the feelings of shame, ridicule and helplessness.

We want to thank the entire team that brought such great smiles into many lives in this mission. Our heartfelt thanks to all dear volunteers for their selfless dedication. We are thankful to team Manipal Hospital under the guidance of Dr Sunit Saxena. Our gratitude to Dr Hari and Mr Karthihaivelan, for their outstanding support. Our heartfelt thanks to the volunteers from Muthoot Fincorp Ltd. Under the guidance of Dr Prasanthkumar Nellickal & Mr Shukla they helped us right from the patient identification to completion of the mission!

We would also like to thank  Col. Shivaji Samaddar (Retd.), Mr Dalip Pande & Dr Ramkumar for guiding the program team whenever we were in need to be more organised.

Some unusual names to be mentioned; our team leaders Dr Manikant Lodaya, Dr Hiteshwar Sharma & Vanu Kipgen. We thank them for their love, supports and guidance. They led the team from the front and handled every issue so beautifully before becoming a challenge. And last but not least, our mission wouldn’t have been successful without the student volunteers! Congratulations and thank you to all who made this mission such a success!

With every smile, with every touch, with every effort, with every hope, Mission Smile is changing the lives of many! Please help us in our mission to make India Cleft Free. DONATE to Mission Smile.

 

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