Smile Train Launches First Cleft Leadership Center in the Philippines

Bound by a shared commitment to increasing access to cleft care, Smile Train, the world’s largest cleft-focused organization, and Noordhoff Craniofacial Foundation Philippines, Inc. (NCFPI) launches the country’s first  Cleft Leadership Center (CLC). As Smile Train celebrates a milestone of supporting more than 75,000 cleft surgeries in the Philippines, the launch of this premier cleft center reinforces the organization’s continued dedication to providing enhanced progressive treatment, especially for cleft-affected Filipinos in need.

[Top, from L-R]: Dr. Glenda de Villa, Dr. Chrys Marquez-Cruz, Mr. Jun Grimares, Ms. Mamta Carroll, Ms. Kimmy Flaviano, Dr. Janet Pandan, Dr. Bernie Tansipek, Mr. Paolo Sison III

[Bottom, from L-R]: Dr. Cecile Cabrera, Ms. Van Enriquez, Ms. Gina Sevilla, and Ms. Van Davidon at the launch of the Cleft Leadership Center in Taft, Manila

Art Impact for Health: Celebrating 75,000 cleft surgeries in the Philippines

Smile Train executives, mural artist Jesse Camacho, WHO representative Isabelle Wachsmuth, and Smile Train ambassadors CJ Opiaza, Pia Wurtzbach and Angelique Manto, at Smile Train’s Art Impact for Health held at the Philippine Band of Mercy

Art has the power to heal and uplift the spirit. As it celebrates supporting more than 75,000 cleft surgeries in the Philippines, Smile Train – the world’s largest cleft-focused organization – is bringing the transformative power of art to the Philippine cleft community through Art Impact for Health.

A global initiative in partnership with the World Health Organization, Art Impact for Health aims to enable healing, communication, and improved psychosocial well-being for all patients. Cleft affected patients face continuing stigma and many are bullied or mistreated because of their condition. As a result, they struggle with negative self-image and low self-esteem. 

Developing sustainable cleft care in the Philippines

Smile Train knows that cleft care is not just surgical care, and patients with cleft often need ongoing speech, orthodontic, nutrition, and psychosocial care to survive and thrive. Beyond surgery, cleft patients need psychosocial care integrated into their cleft treatment. In celebration of the organization’s 75,000 surgery landmark, Smile Train, in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Philippine Band of Mercy, held an art workshop today, bringing the cleft community closer together. The event was attended by patients and families affected by cleft, cleft community advocates, representatives of the World Health Organization, and Smile Train partners and ambassadors, including the winner and runners-up of Miss Universe Philippines 2023.

Ms. Universe 2015 and Smile Train Ambassador Pia Wurtzbach at Smile Train’s Art Impact for Health

The workshop aims to help cleft-affected patients discover healing through art by forging a connection between one’s mind and body, thereby enabling self-expression and empowerment. 

“Healing and health go beyond procedures and treatments. Psychosocial well-being plays a big role in healing and recovery, as well as in building resilience to overcome challenges,” said Mamta Carroll, Senior Vice President and Regional Director for Smile Train Asia.

“As such, we at Smile Train are proud to work alongside the World Health Organization in the Art Impact for Health initiative, as it engages not just patients but those helping in their care by supporting culture and art activities that promote well-being and health for all.”

Ms. Universe Philippines 2023 First Runner-Up CJ Opiaza at Smile Train’s Art Impact for Health

The Art Impact for Health workshop also spreads awareness and deters stigma regarding cleft, which affects children around the world – including the Philippines, where around 5,000 children are born with a cleft every year. 

It also mirrors Smile Train’s enduring commitment to serve the Filipino cleft community through free cleft care and treatment services that can bring transformative change to thousands of Filipinos born with a cleft.

Ms. Universe Philippines 2023 2nd Runner-Up Angelique Manto at Smile Train’s Art Impact for Health

Over the years, Smile Train has brought to life its vision of a sustainable and local model of supporting surgery and other forms of essential care. It supports 100%-free cleft repair surgery and end-to-end cleft care for children, including through innovations such as telehealth, the establishment of comprehensive cleft care centers nationwide, and activities such as Art Impact for Health. Smile Train treats the whole patient through programs that provide access to comprehensive cleft care services, helping build their confidence to interact with others in school, community, workplace, and ultimately allowing them to fully thrive.

For more information about Smile Train’s global efforts and to donate, please visit smiletrain.org. To learn more about Smile Train’s local programs in the Philippines, please visit smiletrain.ph, follow Smile Train Philippines on Twitter and Instagram @SmileTrainPh, and like us on Facebook at @SmileTrainPhilippines. 

Smile Train and Lifebox Distribute Pulse Oximeters to Partner Hospitals, Organizations

Smile Train, the world’s largest cleft-focused organization, and Lifebox, a global nonprofit that saves lives through safer surgery and anesthesia, are distributing 40 pulse oximeters to 24 healthcare facilities in the Philippines, ultimately contributing to 52,000 safer surgeries in the Philippines over the next year.

“Smile Train has worked with Lifebox for over a decade to equip hospitals with essential monitoring tools that are not only necessary for cleft surgery but can be used for other medical procedures and in treating COVID-19. While Smile Train is working toward expanding our reach in more communities, we are also looking for more ways to support and invest in our local healthcare partners,” says Kimmy Coseteng-Flaviano, Smile Train’s Vice President, South East Asia. 

In 2020, Smile Train and Lifebox launched the global Smile Train-Lifebox Safe Surgery and Anesthesia Initiative and together provided 8,800 pulse oximeters to support healthcare providers worldwide in responding to COVID-19. In 2022, the two organizations launched the Lifebox-Smile Train Pulse Oximeter to scale up access to anesthesia monitoring - to make 14 million surgeries safer. Pulse oximeters are needed to measure the blood's oxygen level and are essential for patient monitoring during anesthesia and in intensive care.

A recent report released by Smile Train and Lifebox, “A Critical Gap: Pulse Oximetry in Low- and Middle-Income Countries,” highlighted that 15% of operating beds in low- and lower-middle-income countries lack a pulse oximeter, with 42% of recovery beds unable to provide vital monitoring after surgery.

In the Philippines, Lifebox-Smile Train Pulse Oximeters have been distributed to Marikina St. Vincent General Hospital, San Fernando Hospital in Pampanga, Allegiant Regional Care Hospital in Lapu-Lapu City, and Tebow CURE Hospital in Davao City. More partner hospitals and organizations are expected to receive the pulse oximeters in the coming months. This work is part of 1,000 pulse oximeters currently being distributed to Smile Train partner hospitals worldwide for safer anesthesia care as part of the global Smile Train-Lifebox Safe Surgery and Anesthesia Initiative. 

This 2023, Smile Train Philippines celebrates a landmark of more than 75,000 cleft surgeries performed. This remarkable feat is made possible by its dedicated network of partners including Lifebox, helping improve children’s access to surgery and providing comprehensive care to cleft-affected patients nationwide. 

“By partnering with Lifebox to support the medical communities that our local partners operate in, Smile Train is ensuring safer surgery for every child with a cleft across the globe,” said Flaviano. Aside from the Philippines, countries including Kenya, Somalia, and Honduras have also received these pulse oximeters.

Tim Yap, Javi Martinez, and Sam Verzosa Join the 2023 London Marathon for Smile Train

The world’s largest cleft-focused organization, Smile Train, and its signature endurance fundraising program Team Empower, heads to London for the world’s largest annual fundraising event, the TCS London Marathon. Together with 50,000 other runners, celebrity couple Tim Yap and Javi Martinez, along with businessman and legislator, Cong. Sam Verzosa take on the challenge of the 26.2-mile course for a good cause.

Bigger and Better for Brighter Smiles: Smile Train Celebrates Decades of Smiles as Premier Care Provider in PH

Smile Train commemorates over 20 Years of providing the Best Comprehensive Cleft Care in the Philippines for a bigger, better and brighter smiles

Smile Train Announces Formal Launch of Marikina St. Vincent General Hospital Comprehensive Cleft Care Center

Marikina St. Vincent General Hospital's Comprehensive Cleft Care Center, is a section of Ffacility specifically designated for Speech Therapy & Orthodontics

Simulare Medical, a Division of Smile Train, Announces Patent-Pending Bilateral Cleft Lip and Palate Simulator

Simulare Medical, a Division of Smile Train, Inc., has launched the newest innovation in its growing line of high-fidelity cleft surgical simulators, the first and only Bilateral Cleft Lip and Palate Simulator (patent-pending).

Smile Train and GSK Consumer Healthcare Support Cleft Orthodontics Webinar by the Association of Philippine Orthodontists

The world’s leading cleft-focused organization, Smile Train and GSK Consumer Healthcare supported a three-day Comprehensive Cleft Care Webinar series organized by the Association of Philippine Orthodontists (APO). 

Smile Train Wins a Silver for the First-Ever Filipino Mobile Speech Application at the 57th Anvil Awards

Smile Train Philippines’ Virtual Telehealth and other Speech Therapy programs were recognized for the second consecutive year in the recently concluded 57th Anvil Awards

In the Philippines, where more than 5,000 babies are born with a cleft lip and/or palate every year, access to various cleft-related treatments such as speech therapy remains vital. This is especially true during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when ensuring patients can continue their speech therapy sessions became a pressing concern.

Providing Smiles All-Year-Round: Smile Train Elevates Comprehensive Cleft Care for Filipinos in Need

As the global pandemic approaches its third year, there is no denying that COVID-19 has been everyone’s paramount health concern. However, as many continue to live with the pandemic, Smile Train recognizes that children born with a cleft lip and/or palate still face serious health implications from this condition.

Smile Train Philippines Continues to Give Forever Smiles Throughout the Pandemic

Every day around the world, 540 babies are born with a cleft, a serious health condition with potentially life-threatening complications such as difficulty in eating, breathing, hearing, and speaking. Smile Train provides comprehensive cleft care services to individuals born with a cleft and their families. Despite the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, Smile Train continued to provide free cleft surgery and care for those in need, including baby Mao. 

LOOK: Smile Train Global Ambassador Catriona Gray Brings Smiles to Kenya

Smile Train Global Ambassador Catriona Gray recently visited Kenya, East Africa to spread awareness of Smile Train as a partner in comprehensive cleft care for those in need. Even after her reign as Miss Universe ended, Catriona continues to use her voice to share the message that “All Smiles are Beautiful” and help reach more people who can benefit from Smile Train, the world’s leading cleft charity.

On World Smile Day, Smile Train Celebrated Smiles Through The #KayGandaNgBawatNgiti Campaign

Smile Train, the world’s leading cleft charity, launched the #KayGandaNgBawatNgiti campaign in the Philippines as they invited Filipinos to celebrate World Smile Day® on October 1st. Held annually on the first Friday of October, World Smile Day®, is a day dedicated to inspiring everyone to do acts of kindness around the world.

SmileTrain's First Filipino speech therapy app adds Smile to children with Cleft Lip/Palate

Smile Train has just launched the First speech therapy app in Filipino. They worked so hard in creating and developing the app to help kids with cleft after their operation helping them recover faster. The app aims to help them learn on their own or with their parents/guardian and bring back their smile and confidence.  The  Smile Train app is perfect to use during this pandemic where it's best to stay home and will work even w/o or limited  internet connection(after you've downloaded app)

Smile Train Philippines’ Virtual Telehealth Program Wins Anvil Award

Each day, 540 children around the world are born with a cleft, causing difficulties with eating, breathing, hearing, and speaking. To help these children, Smile Train, the world’s leading cleft organization, supports 100%-free cleft repair surgery and comprehensive cleft care for children globally—a service that could have been severely disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic, if not for the Virtual Telehealth Program and Speech Camp that was launched in the Philippines.

Smile Train launches special edition beep™ cards featuring celebrity Smile Makers

Smile Train, the world’s leading cleft charity, furthers its commitment to champion Filipino children with cleft and spread more smiles through a partnership with AF Payments Inc. (AFPI), the joint venture between Ayala Group and First Pacific Group behind the contactless smart card, beep™.

Baguio-based Artist, Riz Cabrera, launches online art auction for Smile Train Philippines

Smile Train, the world’s leading cleft charity, invites everyone to share the gift of smiles this holiday season. Visual artist, Riz Cabrera, has partnered with Smile Train to raise awareness for children born with a cleft through the launch of her online art auction which she hopes can contribute to sustaining Smile Train’s goal to provide children the urgent support and care needed.

Smile Train Global Ambassador Catriona Gray Joins this Year's Selection Committee for Miss Universe Colombia 2020

Smile Train Global Ambassador, Catriona Gray joins this year’s selection committee as an official judge for the Miss Universe Colombia 2020 pageant.

Catriona Gray joins Smile Train as its newest Global Ambassador

Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray joins Smile Train, the world’s leading cleft organization, as its newest Global Ambassador.

Smile Train Invites Athletes to Turn Their Miles Into Smiles

Smile Train, the world’s leading cleft charity encourages individuals to run for a cause and raise awareness for children with clefts