New Delhi: Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), Bina Refinery (BR), has joined hands with Smile Train, the world’s largest cleft-focused organization, to bring life-changing cleft lip and palate surgeries and awareness campaigns to underserved communities in Sagar District, Madhya Pradesh.
The collaboration is set to provide approximately 70 free surgeries by March 2025, alongside awareness initiatives aimed at educating local populations across 12 tehsils in the district. The project seeks to dispel myths about clefts, accelerate early identification and treatment, and engage communities in understanding the condition.
Key components of the initiative include organizing screening camps to identify children in need of cleft surgeries and conducting workshops for Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA workers). These workshops will equip health workers with the knowledge to identify cleft cases and guide families toward treatment, ensuring the sustainability of the project in the long term.
Speaking about the initiative, Shirish Chandekar, General Manager (HR) at Bina Refinery, stated, “BPCL has always been committed to driving social change and supporting initiatives that uplift the communities we serve. This partnership with Smile Train is an extension of our dedication to improving healthcare in rural and underserved areas. By addressing both medical and awareness gaps, we aim to ensure that children in Sagar district receive the care they need, not only transforming their lives but also raising awareness around cleft conditions across the region.”
Anjali Katoch, Head of Communications and Business Development at Smile Train India, expressed gratitude to BPCL, saying, “Facilitating free, safe, and quality cleft treatment is Smile Train India’s priority. This prestigious partnership empowers us to support more cleft surgeries, giving underprivileged children born with clefts the opportunity to lead healthy and full lives. By supporting surgeries and raising awareness among communities and health workers, I am confident that this collaboration will yield transformative results for the region.”
In India, it is estimated that 35,000 babies are born with cleft lips and/or palates annually, and many children with untreated clefts face significant challenges in eating, breathing, hearing, and speaking. Often, these children live in isolation, particularly in rural areas, due to a lack of awareness, medical infrastructure, and financial resources.
This initiative is a critical step toward improving healthcare access in rural India. It reflects BPCL’s steadfast commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and its efforts to foster sustainable community development. By addressing medical and social challenges associated with clefts, this partnership promises to transform lives and raise awareness in the Sagar district and beyond.
BI Bureau
