Smiles of little flowers: Free cleft lip, palate surgeries offer hope to Sylhet's underprivileged kids

Seven-year-old Adiba Amin Maria sat quietly on a hospital bed, drawing flowers on a piece of paper. The stitches on her lips and palate from a recent surgery prevented her from speaking, but soon she will be able to talk and smile just like other children.

On 20 January, Adiba underwent surgery to repair her cleft lip and palate, a procedure carried out by foreign specialist doctors at no cost to her family.

Sitting by her side at Sylhet Women's Medical College Hospital, her father Ruhul Amin watched his daughter draw with a joyful heart.

"My daughter was born with a cleft lip and palate. Because of this, she couldn't speak properly or smile. After the surgery, this little flower of my home will be able to smile and talk normally, and that makes me very happy," said Ruhul Amin, his voice filled with emotion.

Photo: Debashish Debu

Ruhul, a poor labourer from Jagannathpur upazila in Sunamganj, could never have afforded the high cost of this surgery on his own. But thanks to Chevron Bangladesh, Sylhet Women's Medical College Hospital, the Rotary Club of Jalalabad, and Rotaplast International, his daughter's life has been changed forever.

Funded by Chevron, these organisations came together to provide free surgeries for patients with cleft lips and palates in Sylhet. It wasn't just Adiba—this mission offered surgery to 66 patients, most of whom were children from poor families. This initiative has been held for eight consecutive years.

Badrunnesa, from Shantiganj upazila of Sunamganj, has been struggling to support her family ever since her husband became paralysed in an accident. On top of that, her daughter, Muntaha, 6, was born with a cleft lip and palate. Taking care of her paralysed husband was already a huge challenge, leaving Badrunnesa unable to afford her daughter's surgery.

Thanks to Chevron's funding for this initiative, Badrunnesa was able to get Muntaha's surgery done.

"I learned about the free surgery from a newspaper and brought my daughter here. I will be forever grateful to those who made this possible. Because of them, my daughter will now recover," she said.

Nadim Ahmed, 12, from Beanibazar upazila of Sylhet district, was also born with a cleft lip and palate. 

He had previously undergone surgery at Osmani Medical College Hospital, but the issue was not fully resolved. When his mother, Amina Akter Panna, heard that foreign doctors would be performing surgeries, she brought Nadim for treatment.

"The surgery here was done very well. My child regained consciousness quickly and didn't experience any pain. But I feel afraid to have such surgeries done by local doctors, as various complications often arise," she said.

According to the organisers, the surgeries took place between 14 and 23 January. A team of 26 doctors and nurses from different countries took part in the procedures. The organisers also noted that last year, 69 patients benefited from this initiative.

Regarding this initiative, Mohammad Imrul Kabir, director of Corporate Affairs at Chevron Bangladesh, said, "Chevron operates three gas fields in the north-eastern region of the country and is the largest producer of natural gas in Bangladesh. Alongside our core operations, we are committed to contributing to the local economy, environment, education, and healthcare. Since 2013, we have been collaborating with Rotaplast, and Chevron is fully funding this initiative."

He added, "When a child with a cleft lip undergoes surgery, it transforms not just the child's life, but also the lives of their entire family. That's why this is a life-changing initiative. We will continue to support such efforts in the future."

On 22 January, a closing ceremony for the initiative was held at a hotel conference hall in Sylhet City. Khan Md Reza-un-Nabi, the divisional commissioner of Sylhet, attended the event as the chief guest.