POSCO-India Cleft Lip Surgery Camp concludes successfully
First Surgery Camp in Orissa for Palate Corrections
First batch of cured patients' depart for home, Jagatsinghpur
34 identified, 23 operated in first phase
Bhubaneswar, July 20, 2006: POSCO-India's Cleft Lip surgery camp was initiated on July 10 and was successfully concluded on July 14. Palate Corrections were carried out for the first time in the state in the camp in collaboration with a 13 member team of Korean specialists from Seoul National University and SCB Medical College, Cuttack. Palate surgeries are more complicated and require advanced medical skill and infrastructure than Cleft Lip surgeries. The best possible surgical technology and pre & post operative care were provided to the patients.
On July 19, six patients cured of Cleft Lip anomalies along with their parents waved good bye to the doctors in Plastic Surgery Department, SCB Medical College and left for home with a smile on their young faces. This was in fact the earliest batch of identified patients who were operated on the first day of the surgery camp for Cleft Lip and palate corrections organized by POSCO-India. 34 patients were identified from Jagatsinghpur with help from the District Administration, out of which 23 patients have been operated successfully in the first phase. Rest will be operated in a phased manner by the doctors of SCB Medical College, Cuttack.
On this occasion, Mr. Soung-Sik Cho, Chairman-cum- Managing Director, POSCO-India said, "Most of the patients operated were young children. I am very delighted to observe that all of them are recovering wonderfully. I wish them a healthier and brighter future ahead."
Parents of the cured children were ecstatic on the occasion. They fervently blessed the doctors and the POSCO-India team for all the help rendered. Rabindra Behera from Piteipur, Jagatsinghpur, whose eight month old daughter went through a Cleft Lip correction, said "It was tough for me to arrange money for medical expenses and have my daughter operated. I am grateful to POSCO-India that it has taken such good care of us." The rest of the patients with their attendants will leave SCB premises in subsequent batches including 20th & 21st July.
The camp also served as a platform for medical knowledge and cultural exchange between the visiting team from Korea and doctors in SCB medical College. Along with mutual discussions on latest know-how in the field, staff members also shared cultural thoughts from both the countries.
The medical camp was sponsored by POSCO-India for the people in its proposed plant area. This was POSCO-India's maiden step towards providing better health to the people of Jagatsinghpur. The company in fact, has initiated its social service before setting up its proposed steel plant.
About POSCO-India
POSCO-India Private Limited is a subsidiary of POSCO, the world’s No. 4 steel producer and one of the most competitive steel companies. POSCO signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Orissa in June 2005, to set up a 12-mtpa green field steel plant near Paradip, Jagatsinghpur District, Orissa, with an estimated investment of USD12 billion. The company will build a 4 million tons capacity steel plant in Orissa, during the first phase of its project between 2007 and 2010 and expand the final production volume to 12 million tons. POSCO-India Pvt. Ltd. was incorporated in 25th August 2005 with the Registrar of Companies, Orissa, under the Companies Act 1956.
Caption of the attached photograph:
One Big Family: cured cleft lip patients with staff from SCB medical College. 23 Patients have been successfully operated.