OIL partners with Mission Smile to offer cleft care to 200 NE children

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 12, 2024

Oil India Limited (OIL) has partnered with Mission Smile through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch ‘Project OIL Muskaan,’ a healthcare initiative aimed at providing comprehensive cleft care.

The project will focus on offering cleft surgeries to 200 children born with cleft lip and cleft palate deformities across Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and Tripura.

This initiative of OIL is in alignment with India’s Development Priorities towards the improvement of healthcare and reduced inequalities as well as MoP&NG’s focus on promoting ‘health and nutrition’.

The MoU was signed at Mission Smile Guwahati Comprehensive Cleft Care Centre by Debashis Bora, Chief General Manager (Field Administration), OIL and Conrad Dennis, CEO, Mission Smile, Guwahati in the presence of Dr Apon Jyoti Das, Deputy Chief Medical Officer (Pipeline- HR&A) along with other senior officials from OIL, doctors, and office bearers of Mission Smile.

This transformative healthcare initiative will offer free, life-changing surgeries and post-operative care to children from underprivileged communities.

In line with OIL’s commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR), the project underscores the company’s focus on making a positive impact in the lives of children with congenital facial deformities, improving both their health and social integration.

Under this initiative, children from underprivileged communities in the three northeastern states will receive comprehensive treatment that includes medical screenings, surgeries, speech therapy, and post-operative care.

By addressing these critical needs, the project aims to empower children to lead healthy, fulfilling lives and fully participate in their communities.

Debashis Bora, CGM (FA) OIL in his address reiterated how Oil India Limited’s ongoing commitment to the well-being of the communities is dedicated to improving healthcare access and quality.

“We understand that a healthy community is essential for sustainable development, and we are actively investing under CSR in healthcare infrastructure, services, and outreach programs to ensure that our efforts make a lasting impact”, Bora stated.

Under this agreement, 200 cleft children of these states will be counselled and brought to Mission Smile’s Guwahati Comprehensive Cleft Care Centre for complete treatment. According to the agreement, 50 per cent cost of will be borne by OIL and the balance 50% of the cost is to be borne by the state government as per the public-private partnership (PPP) between the National Health Mission (NHM) of these states and Mission Smile.

It is pertinent to mention that previously OIL had supported 100 surgeries of Tinsukia and Dibrugarh in collaboration with Mission Smile in 2022-23.