Guwahati, April 20: Kuntal Goswami Memorial Trust (KGMT) Hospital, a partner hospital of Smile Train - an international children's charity, providing free cleft lip and palate surgery - is conducting a weeklong cleft awareness drive across the state from Tuesday.

Talking to The Telegraph, plastic reconstruction and cosmetic surgeon and Smile Train project director Seema Rekha Devi said, "There is lack of awareness and superstition regarding cleft lip and cleft palate in the region. The awareness week includes a nurses' training programme, school awareness camps and an interaction with former patients".

Around 35,000 children are born with the problem each year in India. The surgery costs between Rs 10,000 and Rs 30,000 but is done for free at KGMT Hospital.