Program to benefit nearly 300,000 patients
The Baxter International Foundation has announced a US$2.2 million grant to Operation Smile, one of the world’s largest volunteer-based surgical nonprofit organizations, to deliver free surgical and multidisciplinary care to underserved communities in India.
During the next three years, the grant will support Operation Smile’s year-round care centers in Mumbai, Srinagar and Bangalore, said Baxter on 4 June 2019.
It will be operated in partnership with the Inga Health Foundation, along with a new care center in Durgapur, West Bengal.
These centers treat patients of all ages with cleft conditions and/or other facial differences and work to improve the quality and completeness of cleft care in the country.
“We are proud to work with Operation Smile to bring needed surgical care to those in India who have limited access to safe medical treatment,” said José (Joe) E. Almeida, chairman and chief executive officer, Baxter.
“With Baxter employees positioned across India, this program is just one example of how we are committed to making a lasting impact in communities where our teams live and work,” said Almeida.
With a scarcity of both health providers and accessible services, local health systems in India face challenges meeting the surgical care needs of patients, said Baxter.
Estimates suggest there may be more than 200,000 untreated cleft lip and cleft palate cases in the country.
In addition to supporting the ongoing operations of the care centers, this grant will facilitate the education and training of local health care workers, equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to deliver high quality patient care.
The three-year grant is expected to directly and indirectly reach nearly 300,000 patients, family members and health workers.
“Since we founded Operation Smile in 1982, we’ve always envisioned a world where health and dignity are improved in communities around the world through access to safe surgery,” said Bill Magee, co-founder and chief executive officer of Operation Smile.
“We’re grateful that Baxter shares our aspiration to transform healthcare around the world and bring care to underserved communities. Working together will allow us to contribute to strengthening the health systems in India and to bring the provision of safe surgery to those who need it most,” said Magee.
The Operation Smile center in Durgapur at the IQ City Narayana Multispecialty Hospital opened earlier this year and will serve as a hub for operations in West Bengal and its surrounding states to support surgical services, education and training and ongoing medical programs.
During its first week in operation, nearly 70 patients received free health evaluations at the Durgapur center and surgeons performed more than 25 procedures.
“Due to financial and social barriers, populations within India are unable to access proper surgical care and other services that are needed for complete cleft care such as speech therapy, dentistry and nutritional therapy,” said Partha Saddhu, M.D., medical director at the Durgapur Center.
“Thanks to the Baxter International Foundation and Operation Smile’s support, we’re able to bring quality care to our patients at the Durgapur center and provide free surgery and advance patient care,” said Saddhu.
Every day, Baxter strives to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who depend on Baxter products and in the communities where employees live and work.
The Baxter International Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Baxter International Inc., helps advance the company’s mission to save and sustain lives.
Baxter partners with organizations around the world to increase access to healthcare for the underserved, to develop the next generation of innovators who will lead the way in advancing healthcare and to create a long-lasting impact in communities globally. Baxter is proud to support initiatives and organizations that make a positive, lasting impact in these critical areas. fiinews.com
