Thankfully, what could have been the bane of a lifetime, was treated without a blemish at the plastic surgery department of PGI — that too for free.

“Patients are not aware that cleft lip and palate surgeries are being done here for free since April 2007. This was made possible through the sponsorship by Smile Train, the US-based international charity organisation, which is focused on this ailment only,” said Head of Department, Dr R K Sharma today.

To further facilitate patients’ families, the outstation patients are reimbursed for every trip that they make to the PGI.

“We have, however, made an exception for patients staying in the private wards as they are not extended the free surgery facility,” added the doctor.

Over 10 lakh people live in India with this birth defect, but so far, only 165 patients have benefited from the scheme here, said doctors. Most come from far-flung areas — eastern UP, Bihar and Orissa.

“The chief reason for untreated clefts is ignorance, superstition and poverty. People simply cannot afford the cost of surgery. A single surgery costs around Rs 7,000 and a patient needs three to four surgeries over a span of a few years,” added Prof Sharma.

As per surgeons, the best treatment for clefts is an early surgery, so proper development of speech and hearing is possible.