Cleft lips and palates can be detected as early as 20 weeks of pregnancy says Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

By News Helpline, Mumbai - 21st November, 2019

Actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who has been associated with Smile Train foundation, has said that condition of cleft lips and palates can be detected as early as 20 weeks of pregnancy by an ultra-sound scan.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was addressing media as she celebrated 'Day Of Smile' on her late father Krishnaraj Rai‘s birthday on Wednesday in Mumbai.

The Smile Train is a non-profit organization which provides corrective surgery for children born with cleft lips and palates.

Talking about work of Smile Train foundation, Aishwarya said, “It feels really good to see beautiful and smiling faces of these children who are present at this event. I am just so grateful to God and wonderful work of doctors that we are able to witness this blessing and I am able to remember my father, his vision, his legacy through the good work that you do today as well.”

Aishwarya said that cleft lips and palates can be detected as early as 20 weeks of pregnancy, she said,   “Being a mother is the best feeling and it’s a blessing that a lot of us are so grateful for but I feel it is extremely important for a mother to be empowered with information and knowledge for the betterment of their children at all times throughout their lifetime so, birth difference like cleft can be detected at a very early stage, as early as 20 weeks of pregnancy by an ultra-sound scan. Smile Train is making an effort to help maximum children get this treatment at a very early stage with the help of   Gynecologist all over the country.”

She added, “Through the work of Smile Train, you can have the early diagnosis, there can be intervention and in case, your child has been detected to be born with a cleft then do take the support of Smile Train and its partners hospitals across India to seek early intervention. This will help your child to receive timely treatment and prevent further complications and thus, they will be able live life to their fullest potential.”

Remembering her father Aishwarya said, “I would like to thank doctors, children, my Smile Train family and members of the media who have come here. I have been celebrating 20th November, the birthday of my father Shri. Krishnaraj Rai as a ‘Day Of Smile’ and making it so special year after year. I feel you (media) are our voices of the good work done here by spreading the awareness, giving us the time and your attention and hence helping us reach millions of people out there to know enough about Smile Train, the good work that they do and spread information about cleft lips and palates so that everybody can access it.”

Aishwarya added that she proud of Smile Train’s work, she said, “Around six lakhs surgeries have been done by Smile Train foundation. It is very remarkable milestone of the good work that they are doing in our country. The impact it has created in so many children’s and their family’s life is really special.”

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was last seen onscreen in ‘Fanney Khan’ along with Anil Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao.