SHRI celebrates 25th anniversary of Smile Train

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 4 : Shija Hospitals & Research Institute, in partnership with Smile Train, celebrated the 25th Anniversary of Smile Train by lighting up the hospital and Kangla Fort, Imphal, in blue, the primary brand color of Smile Train today.
By illuminating iconic landmarks worldwide, the event aimed at raising awareness about cleft lip and palate and contribute to a Guinness World Record attempt.
Kangla Fort, an ancient landmark and symbol of Manipur’s rich heritage, was illuminated from 7 to 7.10 pm on today.
It was part of Smile Train's global initiative to highlight the birth difference of cleft lip and palate and to celebrate 25 years of free cleft surgery, said Shija Hospital in a statement.
As the world's largest cleft organization, Smile Train marks 2024 as a monumental year, having performed over 2 million cleft surgeries worldwide and 700,000 in India.
Shija Hospitals has been a significant contributor to this milestone, with 4,690 successful surgeries conducted through the Smile Train Shija Cleft Project since its launch on June 11, 2006.
The Smile Train Shija Cleft Project continues to provide free corrective surgeries for children, starting from 3 months of age for cleft lips and 14 months of age for cleft palates. Beyond surgery, the project provides free diagnostics, accommodations, travel support, speech therapy, and rehabilitation.
There are three credentialed Smile Train-partnered surgeons at Shija Hospitals including Prof (Dr) Guruaribam Nilamani Sharma, Dr Palin Khundongbam, and Dr Nabakishor Haobijam.
In a memorable moment in 2019, the Smile Torch, commemorating Smile Train’s 20th Anniversary, began its journey from Kangla Fort, Imphal.
The celebration signifies the region’s central role in Smile Train’s mission of “Lighting Up the World with Smiles.”