SMILE Train, the world’s largest cleft organization, recently took part in the 43rd Annual Convention of the Integrated Midwives Association of the Philippines (Imap). The Annual Convention was held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City on October 19 and 20 that more than 3,000 midwives from all over the Philippines attended.
Smile Train Philippines Foundation Inc. Country Director Kimmy Flaviano, together with Dr. Benjamin Herbosa, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon and a local Smile Train medical partner, gave a brief discussion on cleft lip and palate, encouraging midwives to refer potential patients to the organization so that they may receive proper treatment.
“We, at Smile Train, endeavor to give cleft children a second chance at life. A simple surgery, which we provide for free for children in need, not only creates a bright smile for the child but can also provide the child an opportunity for a brighter future,” Flaviano said.
“We recognize the significant role of the midwives, since they are the ones in the communities. They have the ability to help us identify patients and guide mothers on how to take care of their babies with clefts and get them ready for surgery,” she added.
In the Philippines it is estimated that one in every 500 babies born each year will have a cleft. Smile Train continues to engage with Imap in order to widen its network while unceasingly helping to alleviate some of the challenges children with clefts are faced with. With this partnership, Imap helps push Smile Train’s advocacy by informing the latter when midwives deliver a baby born with a cleft lip or cleft palate.