Good People In SnackVideo Make 300 Cleft Lip Babies Can Have Free Surgery

Recipient of Free Cleft Lip Surgery from SnackVideo (Photo: Puput Puji/VOI)

JAKARTA - Not always social media has a bad impact for the citizens. If you can use it correctly, social media can also have a positive impact. Like the #SenyummuSedekahmu movement that the netizens do in SnackVideo.

This short video-based social media application gives a value of Rp1,000 for one #SenyummuSedekahmu-fenced upload last Ramadan. As a result, the #SenyummuSedekahmu program was implemented from April 12 to May 14, 2021 and collected donations worth 1.5 billion Rupiah.

"There are more than 503,000 SnackVideo creators joining the program. Donations are accumulated from a total of 104.6 million users who shared the video and 4 million users have accessed this campaign," explained Donny Eryastha, Head of Public Policy for Southeast Asia and South Asia, Snack Video, during a symbolic handover of aid to Smile Train Indonesia in Bogor, Tuesday, May 25.

With the donation, Snack Video collaborated with Smile Train Indonesia to finance more than 3000 children who have cleft lip and palate slits.

"We are very happy to meet the creation of hundreds of new smiles of Indonesian children, created thanks to the help of alms video smiles. About 300 cleft lip patients throughout Indonesia, including in the Bogor area of West Java, will be helped to get surgery from the results of this campaign. We believe that this campaign has had a positive impact not only on those who will receive free surgery, but also through the awakening of public awareness of the number of cleft lip patients in Indonesia who are still struggling to get access to health assistance," said Deasy Larasati, Country Manager of Smile Train Indonesia.

If operated early on, cleft lip sufferers are expected to grow and socialize well. Most cleft lip babies have difficulty drinking breast milk so it is difficult to grow to the maximum.

Dr. Yantoko, SpBP, RE, Plastic Surgeon Mitra Smile Train Indonesia explained. Children born with cleft lip and/or palate conditions have the potential to experience a variety of health complications such as difficulty eating, breathing, hearing, speaking, and are at high risk of malnutrition.

"If these conditions are not addressed immediately, it is possible that they can live in isolation and have difficulty in socializing due to the stigma that arises from society. The cleft lip child can be operated on as old as three months and weighs up to 5kg. While the sky gap is usually done after a child one year. The sooner the better," he explained.

Smile Train Indonesia has worked closely with hundreds of hospitals, medical professionals in various regions, as well as various organizations and institutions, including Snack Video, to further reach patients from all over Indonesia who have not gained access to free cleft lip surgery and treatment.