Smoking and drinking might put pregnant women at risk of giving birth to babies with cleft lips and palates

Caretaker Deputy Public Health Minister Anuthin Charnweerakul (อนุทิน ชาญวีระกุล) calls on pregnant women to take good care of themselves to prevent their babies born with cleft lips and palates.

Mr. Anuthin said there is still no cure for those conditions except a surgery so would-be mothers should not smoke and drink during pregnancy. Smoking and drinking probably could cause cleft lip and palate, he said.

Mr. Anuthin said about 2,000 Thai babies were born with cleft lips and palates in a year. The Thai Red Cross Society will pay 1,000 baht to health volunteers who can bring in children with those conditions for treatment, he said.

Mr. Anuthin yesterday visited babies born with cleft lips and palates being treated at Rayong Hospital under the “Beautiful Smile, Beautiful Voice” project being carried out to celebrate the 50th birthday anniversary of HRH Princess Sirindhorn.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 7 July 2006

NHSO will provide free orthodontic treatment to children w/ cleft lip/palate

The National Health Security Office will provide orthodontic treatment to children with cleft lip and cleft palate diseases. The project is planned to commence next year.

The Deputy Minister of Public Health, Mr. Anutin Charnvirakul, earlier visited the children who have cleft lip and cleft palate diseases, and he has proposed to the National Health Security Office to give them orthodontic treatment, following their surgical procedures.

The proposal is being considered by the management board and experts, and they will coordinate with the Thai Red Cross Society and the Dental Council on this project’s budget so patients would not have to pay the medical bills. The proposal is also expected to become a national policy so patients would have the right for such treatment. In addition, only about 2,000 infants are born with such diseases.

The National Health Security Office will follow up on the patients for five years, and they can receive orthodontic treatment free of charge.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 7 July 2006