As the world’s leading cleft-focused organization, Smile Train has supported 100%-free cleft repair surgery and comprehensive cleft care for Filipinos born with cleft lip and palate in the last two decades.
Every 3 minutes, in any part of the world, a baby is born with a cleft. Many of them grow up without their cleft conditions being treated, leading to difficulties in eating, breathing, hearing, and speaking.
Recognizing that clefts are a serious medical condition affecting the lives of millions of people globally, Smile Train made it a commitment to make safe, effective, and lifesaving cleft treatment always available to those who need it most. Founded in 1999, Smile Train has been working with local medical professionals and local hospitals to ensure cleft treatment may be provided throughout the year. This sustainable model of building stronger and more resilient healthcare systems, with patients able to access treatment year-round. Additionally, by investing in local healthcare workers and centers and providing them with the latest techniques, technologies, and equipment, Smile Train helps create a sustainable culture of medical excellence in underserved countries around the world, with benefits that go far beyond cleft care.
Over the years, Smile Train has worked toward providing comprehensive cleft care for Filipinos at zero cost – from surgery to post-surgery care, and other cleft treatment such as speech therapy, orthodontics, and even breast-feeding support for mothers of children with cleft.
Kimmy Coseteng-Flaviano, Smile Train Vice President, South East Asia
Now the world’s largest cleft-focused organization, Smile Train’s sustainable model has resulted in a network of more than 2,100 partner medical professionals in 70+ countries delivering safe, reliable care to 1.5 million patients and counting — more than every other cleft organization combined.
Serving the Filipino cleft community
In 2001, Smile Train began to serve cleft-affected individuals in the Philippines, where it is estimated that 5,000 babies are born with a cleft lip, cleft palate, or both every year. Knowing that cleft lip and palate requires a range of long-term comprehensive cleft care interventions, Smile Train wanted to make sure that Filipino patients with clefts are able to access various cleft-related treatments.
As in Smile Train’s programs across the globe, the success of its sustainable model is anchored on partnerships with local medical professionals and hospitals in the Philippines, which has helped to improve access to safe, high-quality, and timely treatment for adults and children born with a cleft lip and/or palate. To date, Smile Train in the Philippines has:
- Conducted 75,000+ Surgeries since 2001
- 50+ Partner Hospitals and Organizations
- At least 10 Partners Providing Cleft Palate Speech Services
- At least 6 Partners Providing Cleft Orthodontic Services
Comprehensive Cleft Care
Cleft treatment is not a one-off process or a series of surgeries. It often requires a holistic approach including nutritional support, dental and orthodontic care, psychosocial support, and speech therapy, among others.
Smile Train’s comprehensive cleft care programs include nutritional support, orthodontic care, psychosocial support, and speech therapy, with pilot programs in dental care and ENT services. Smile Train’s goal is for individuals born with a cleft to receive optimum care, enabling them to live fuller and healthier lives.
In the last two years, Smile Train has celebrated many milestones in the Philippines that helped advance our local expertise in treating cleft and then eventually expanding by launching more comprehensive cleft care centers in farther communities.
In the Philippines, Smile Train has established comprehensive cleft care centers in partnership with partners Marikina St. Vincent General Hospital, Philippine Band of Mercy, Craniofacial Foundation of the Philippines, San Fernandino Hospital in Pampanga, Mabuhay Deseret Foundation in ARC Hospital in Cebu, and Tebow CURE Hospital in Davao. Smile Train’s Cleft Leadership Center in the Philippines was also launched this year in partnership with Noordhoff Craniofacial Foundation of the Philippines.
“Over the years, Smile Train has worked toward providing comprehensive cleft care for Filipinos at zero cost – from surgery to post-surgery care, and other cleft treatment such as speech therapy, orthodontics, and even breast-feeding support for mothers of children with cleft.,” said Kimmy Coseteng-Flaviano, Smile Train Vice President, South East Asia.
“In the last two years, Smile Train has celebrated many milestones in the Philippines that helped advance our local expertise in treating cleft and then eventually expanding by launching more comprehensive cleft care centers in farther communities. By investing in local healthcare professionals and hospitals, we can reach more patients and provide safe, high-quality, and timely treatment for adults and children born with cleft lip and/or palate,” added Flaviano.
For more information about Smile Train’s global efforts or to donate, please visit: smiletrain.org
To learn more about Smile Train’s local programs in the Philippines please visit: smiletrain.ph
About Smile Train
Smile Train empowers local medical professionals with training, funding, and resources to provide free cleft surgery and comprehensive cleft care to children globally. We advance a sustainable solution and scalable global health model for cleft treatment, drastically improving children’s lives, including their ability to eat, breathe, speak, and ultimately thrive. To learn more about how Smile Train’s sustainable approach means donations have both an immediate and long-term impact, please visit: smiletrain.org
