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In celebration of the World Smile Day, PT Industri Jamu Dan Farmasi Sido Muncul Tbk. through its featured product Kuku Bima Health Supplement held free cleft lip surgery in collaboration with Smile Train Indonesia Foundation at the Panti Wilasa Citarum Hospital, Semarang, Central Java on Friday (07/10).

The Rp350,000,000 (three hundred fifty million rupiah) cleft lip surgery assistance was symbolically handed by the Director of Sido Muncul, Irwan Hidayat, to the Country Manager and Program Director of Smile Train Indonesia, Deasy Larasati. Present at the handover ceremony was the Director of Panti Wilasa Citarum Hospital, Dr. Yohanes Mada.

Sido Muncul Director Irwan Hidayat explained that there are 50 infant and child patients who will undergo the free cleft lip and palate surgery. This assistance was directed to patients from underprivileged families.

“I feel that children with cleft lip have difficulty eating and are not confident with their appearance. We hope that the surgeries will go smoothly so the patients can smile again and boost their confidence in socializing,” Irwan stated.

The free cleft lip surgery programme began in 2018. It was held in across Indonesia, including twice at the St. Carolus Borromeus Hospital, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara; Dolok Sanggul Regional Public Hospital, North Sumatera; Sari Asih Hospital, Serang, Banten; Surodadi Regional Public Hospital, Tegal; Wonosobo Islamic Hospital, Central Java; Selaras Hospital, Tangerang; and Hermina Galaxy Hospital, Bekasi.

“Since Sido Muncul started to provide free surgeries, there have been 212 cleft lip and palate patients who received assistance. For next year, our target is to provide free surgeries for 4,000 patients. Currently, the funds used are not only from the CSR budget, but also from the proceeds of the advertisement of Kuku Bima Health Supplement. Hopefully more people can be treated,” said Irwan.

Irwan hopes that the free cleft lip and palate surgeries held by Kuku Bima Sido Muncul Health Supplement can inspire others to do the same, since the number of people with cleft lip in Indonesia is still high.

Going forward, Kuku Bima Sido Muncul Health Supplement will continue its commitment to reduce the number of cleft lip and palate patients in Indonesia so that there are more smiles of the nation's next generation.