Bengaluru, October 8, 2022: Himalaya Wellness Company, one of India’s leading wellness brands, announced the launch of its 7th edition of “Ek Nayi Muskaan” in Namma Bengaluru today. Muskaan is the flagship social impact initiative that aims to create awareness on the condition of cleft lips and palates in children. This initiative has been co-created and implemented in partnership with Smile Train, the world largest cleft-focused NGO dedicated to spreading awareness on cleft deformities and supporting this facial birth difference and supporting 100% free cleft surgeries and comprehensive cleft care for the underprivileged. To commemorate the launch this year, Himalaya, organized an event to address the societal stigma that children face due to cleft and bring about a change in society to recognize that children with clefts can live full and healthy lives. The event saw many engaging activities such as gaming zones, art workshops, and interactive installations for children. They also got an opportunity to engage and interact with various Instagram influencers such as Neha Chatlani, Namrata Kumari, Swati Gandhi, Diksha, and Palak Bhandari at the event.
Photo Caption: Children with spokespersons of Himalaya Wellness Company & Smile Train
The event saw speakers who shared their success stories with children, helping them get inspired from some incredible narratives on cleft.
Through this initiative, Himalaya Wellness Company and Smile Train India are working to spread awareness about the birth condition that affects one in 700 births in India, but still faces a shocking lack of awareness among much of the population. This initiative also seeks to support families by providing free cleft treatment for children in need across the country.
Himalaya Wellness Company has persisted on its aim to bring happiness to children across India in tandem with its mission to spread “Wellness in every Home and Happiness in every Heart.” Himalaya, along with Smile Train, has been on the mission to spread the joy of smiles since the start of this initiative in 2016. Together, they have enabled nearly 1,100 cleft repair surgeries so far and helped in bringing smiles to the faces of these children who deserve a healthy and happy smile.
“Muskaan is an initiative that is very close to our hearts. Through the years, we have seen hundreds of children get their chance at a healthier and happier life because of the cleft repair surgeries. Our hope and objective, therefore, is to continue to see many such happy faces in the future. As a company, we have always believed in Happiness through Wellness to be the core of our operation and function. This initiative by Himalaya Lip Care helps us take the mission on-ground and create that impact we want to see in the world. With Muskaan, we intend to partner in the journey of these brave children towards achieving their dreams and living a happy and healthy life.” said Mr. Sushil Goswami, General Manager - Consumer Products Division, Himalaya Wellness Company.
Last year, due to the pandemic, the Muskaan event was conducted on an online platform and was still able to transform the lives of more than 130 children in need of a cleft repair surgery. This year intends to be no exception. On the purchase of every premium lip balm, Himalaya Wellness Company will donate a dedicated amount towards the initiative.
Emphasizing the initiative, Ms. Anjali Katoch, Senior Director Communication and Development, Smile Train India, explained, “Children with untreated clefts face difficulties in eating, breathing, hearing, and speaking, with increased susceptibility to ENT infections. This can greatly affect their mental health and social lives as well. A cleft surgery is life transforming; however, hundreds of thousands of children in India still await treatment due to poverty and lack of awareness. Through Muskaan and our partnership with Himalaya Wellness Company, we continue to aim to increase awareness about clefts and make free cleft surgeries and comprehensive cleft care easily accessible to more and more children across India.”
About Cleft
Cleft lip and/or palate is a birth difference that occurs when certain facial tissues do not fuse properly during fetal development. One in every 700 babies are born with a cleft globally. In India, it is estimated that more than 35,000 children are born with clefts, annually. While the incidence of cleft is related to the density of population, West Bengal alone sees about 2,500 births with cleft defects annually.
Children with untreated clefts not only live in isolation, but more importantly, face physical difficulties with eating, breathing, and speaking, and are prone to frequent ear infections. It is estimated that less than 50% of children with clefts get treatment due to ignorance and poverty in India. They face social isolation, and many drop out of school due to speech-related learning problems, which in turn leads to loss of employment opportunities.
Under expert care, cleft surgeries are safe, and the transformation is immediate. Since 2000 Smile Train's sustainable model provides training, funding, and resources to empower local doctors and hospitals across India to provide 100% free cleft surgeries and comprehensive cleft care in their own communities. As a result, Smile Train has enabled more than 1.5 million cleft surgeries globally, with 675,000+ surgeries being supported in India.
About Himalaya Wellness Company
In 1930, a young visionary by the name of Mr. M. Manal foresaw the benefits of herbal remedies while riding through the forests of Burma. After diligently researching the science of the traditional field of Ayurveda, he decided to dedicate his life to creating products that would improve millions of lives across the world. Today, with a history spanning nine decades in herbal research, Himalaya has positioned itself as a brand that cares about not only enriching people’s lives but also the environment. With the ‘head-to-heel’ range of products, Himalaya aims to provide a holistic solution to everyday ailments that affect our bodies. To know more, visit https://himalayawellness.in/
About Smile Train India
Smile Train empowers local medical professionals with training, funding, and resources to provide free cleft surgeries and comprehensive cleft care to children globally. We advance a sustainable solution and scalable global health model for cleft treatment, drastically improving children's lives, including their ability to eat, breathe, speak, and ultimately thrive. Since the year 2000, Smile Train India has supported more than 675,000+ free cleft surgeries in India through a network of 150+ partner hospitals. To learn more about Smile Train's India's sustainable approach, please visit: www.smiletrainindia.org
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