Himalaya Wellness has completed its thirtieth sponsorship for cleft lip surgery in Pakistan at the Liaquat National Hospital in Karachi this year, reinforcing the company’s commitment to giving back to its communities. The company had also previously sponsored thirty surgeries last year for the same procedure.
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Himalaya Wellness, in collaboration with Smile Train, has been working on funding cosmetic surgeries for newborns with cleft lip, an underdiscussed physical complication that can inhibit normal facial motor skills in babies, cause feeding issues, and pose social challenges later in life.
Since the condition isn’t life-threatening, it isn’t a top priority for many healthcare institutes and communities, particularly for patients from low-income backgrounds since the correction procedures come with a hefty cost.
“Having a newborn baby in Pakistan comes with its challenges, especially for the country’s lower classes. And when these children face complications in their genetic makeup, parents often have to make the difficult choice between carrying the weight of hefty correction procedures, or helplessly seeing their child suffer from a complication that could simply be treated through the correct resources” said Hammad Zahid, Country Manager, Himalaya Wellness.
Parents to children born with this birth defect usually have little to no support or guidance as to how they can help their child live a normal life. Feeding, eating, and other facial functions become much more difficult, not to mention a society that stigmatizes extraordinary physical appearances and demands physical perfection.
Himalaya Wellness, through its partnership with Liaquat National Hospital, has stepped forth to assist these families in getting the surgical help they need, thereby setting an example for business and private sector leaders. Being a wide-known company in Pakistan, the health and wellness giant believes in empowering its communities and consumer bases in areas that are often overlooked during community welfare debates.
“Our mission in sponsoring these surgeries is not only to give a new chance at life to these vulnerable families, but to also spread awareness on the treatment and nuances around cleft lips and encourage our counterparts in the business community to realize their privilege and step up by our side in sponsoring these treatments” commented Asma Qadri, Program Manager Pakistan for Smile Train, sharing her thoughts on the culture of corrective cosmetic procedures in the country.
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