Arlington Hts. charity helps with free cleft palate surgeries in India

Posted March 23, 2015 11:00 pm

Submitted by Foundation for Children in Need

The Foundation for Children in Need, a not-for-profit organization based in Arlington Heights, has coordinated provision of free cleft lip and cleft palate surgeries in India.

Smile Network, based in Minneapolis, provided a medical team of 17 volunteers headed by Dr. Rajbir Sarpal, an anesthesiologist. Dr. Lester Mohler and Dr. Uldis Bite did the surgeries last month on 58 children and adults from the Indian states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

The host hospital, Santhiram Medical College and General Hospital, provided free use of its operating rooms, beds for the children and accommodation and food for children and their parents. More than 100 doctors, nurses and staff provided support.

In addition to coordinating the effort, FCN provided each family with money for travel expenses and food.

FCN was begun by Dr. Geetha Yeruva and Tom Chitta to serve the poor in southern India. It provides basic needs, education and health care to more than 2,200 students through a sponsorship program. The founders are currently back in the Chicago area.

Fot more information, visit fcn-usa.org and fcnindia.org.

Nithik Alladli from Shadnagar, Mahaboonbagar District, India, was one of 58 people to benefit from cleft lip and cleft palate surgery a day earlier arranged with help from an Arlington Heights-based charity. Courtesy of Foundation for Children in Need

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