A year since it established the first Comprehensive Cleft Care (CCC) center in Cebu, Smile Train continues to work toward improving access to cleft treatment for those in need in the province and across the Visayas.

Through its partnership with Allegiant Regional Care (ARC) Hospitals and Mabuhay Deseret Foundation, CCC has treated over 120 patients.

“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,” said Melody Ledesma, country director, Mabuhay Deseret Foundation.

According to Dr. Alex Alegrado, medical director of ARC Hospitals Inc., many patients have inquired about receiving treatment. “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 treatment.”

“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,” said Jun Grimares, program director, Smile Train Philippines.

Smile Train recognizes that an untreated cleft can cause various health complications such as malnutrition, difficulty in breathing and speaking, hearing loss, mental health challenges and even premature death. Smile Train brings the services of a multidisciplinary team of specialists to promote various programs that connect all patients to the care they need, relying on its network of more than 50 partners. Among these partners are the Philippine Band of Mercy and Marikina St. Vincent General Hospital in Metro Manila. Smile Train has been able to support more than 68,000 cleft surgeries in the Philippines to date.

Follow @SmileTrainPh on Instagram; @SmileTrainPhilippines on Facebook; visit smiletrain.org.