ASHA Workers Honored at Cleft Awareness Workshop in Alipurduar

ASHA Workers Honored at Cleft Awareness Workshop in Alipurduar

Alipurduar, March 23, 2025 – A special Cleft Awareness Workshop was held at Rabindra Bhaban in Alipurduar to spread awareness about cleft lip and palate. The event was organized by Smile Train, the world's largest cleft-focused NGO, and Anandaloke Multispecialty Hospital, Siliguri.  

Dr. Neela Bhattacharya, Consultant Plastic Surgeon at Anandaloke Hospital and Project Director of Smile Train, spoke about the 18-year journey of Smile Train in helping nearly 5,000 children with cleft conditions.  

The District Magistrate of Alipurduar, Smt. R. Vimala, I.A.S., attended the event and stressed the need for early treatment of cleft conditions. The Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) of Alipurduar, Dr. Sumit Ganguli, praised the teamwork between Smile Train, Anandaloke Hospital, and government health programs like Sishu Sathi and RBSK.  

Ms. Sucharita Chakraborty, Smile Train Program Manager for India, shared details about cleft care and awareness. Dr. Shushanta Kumar Roy, Director of Anandaloke Hospital, highlighted the hospital's long-standing free treatment for cleft children with the support of Smile Train.  

A major part of the event was the felicitation of about 450 ASHA workers. They were honored for finding children with cleft conditions and connecting them to free medical care. The ASHA workers also learned about the role of nutrition in preparing children for cleft surgery. Smile Train provides free nutrition to malnourished children to help them recover. Dr. Surabhi Sarkar, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon at Anandaloke Hospital, spoke about this support.  

Other dignitaries at the event included Dy. CMOHs Dr. Krishnendy Mukherjee, Dr. Tarun Kanti Kutia, and Dr. Kumaresh Ghosh.