New Delhi, Feb. 23 -- Birth is a moment of celebration. Yet for thousands of families in India, that joy is mixed with fear and uncertainty when a child is born with a cleft.

If left untreated, cleft lip and/or cleft palate can affect a child's ability to eat, breathe, speak, and hear. Beyond the physical challenges, children often face social stigma, isolation, and low self-esteem, which can limit opportunities in education, employment, and relationships later in life.

Understanding Clefts

Cleft lip and cleft palate are among the most common birth differences globally, with approximately one in every 700 babies born with a cleft. In India alone, this means more than 35,000 children are born with clefts every year. Clefts occur when pa...