Over 120 Patients Found Their Smile Through Smile Train and ARC Hospitals

A year after the first Comprehensive Cleft Care Center (CCC) opened its doors in ARC Hospitals in Lapu-Lapu City, Smile Train Foundation has given over 120 patients a new smile.

Smile Train program director Jun Grimares is glad that the program has helped many children with cleft lip and palate in its first year, even during the height of the pandemic.

“We have reached another milestone in our goal of providing care for every cleft-affected individual, and a year full of smiles is just the beginning. We are confident that we will be able to reach more Filipinos affected with a cleft and help provide them with access to the necessary comprehensive cleft care support they need,” Grimares said.

Smile Train Philippines, Allegiant Regional Care (ARC) Hospitals, and the Mabuhay Deseret Foundation worked together to make the first Comprehensive Cleft Care Center (CCC) in the region possible.

“Our partnership with Smile Train has allowed us to offer many Filipino patients hope and a chance to experience life-changing treatment for free. With the first comprehensive cleft care center in the region, we are able to cater to more patients and help them learn more about Smile Train’s programs of holistic care for those with cleft,” said Mabuhay Deseret Country Director Melody Ledesma.

According to the data from St. Luke’s Medical center, 1 out of 1,000 is born with cleft lip and palate in the Philippines. Most of them were born in poverty which makes it hard for them to get the care they needed.

Smile Train in ARC Hospitals reaches out to them to give them 100% free cleft repair surgery and comprehensive cleft care for patients from Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Samar, and Negros Oriental.

“Dito po sa mundong to may libre pa, at ito po ay binibigay nang aming mga partners kagaya nang ARC at Smile Train,” Grimares said.

The comprehensive cleft care program includes nutritional support, orthodontic care, psychological support, and speech therapy, with pilot programs in dental care and ENT services.

In some cases, Smile Train and its partners also extend its help in transportation, accommodations, and other needs of the patient and the people accompanying them during the comprehensive cleft care program.

“Ang Mabuhay Deseret just don’t facilitate the surgery we accomodate patients as well,” Ledesma of Mabuhay Daseret said.

The free comprehensive cleft care program is available for indigent and non-indigent patients. The goal of Smile Train Philippines and its partners is to give cleft care to anyone who needs them and help fix smiles and change lives.

Even with the looming pandemic, ARC Hospitals and Smile Train continued to give cleft care and have cared for over 120 patients in its first year.

“Contrary to the notion that services are paused due to the pandemic, we are happy to share that the cleft team at ARC continues to provide life-changing treatment for those in need,” said Dr. Alex Alegrado, Medical Director of Allegiant Regional Care (ARC) Hospitals Inc.

For more information or inquiries regarding the Comprehensive Cleft Care Center (CCC) in ARC Hospitals, you can message them on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ARC.Hospitals.

To learn more about Smile Train, you can visit their website at www.smiletrain.org, You can also follow them on Instagram @SmileTrainPh and like them on Facebook @SmileTrainPhilippines. (ASC)