Overview
Smile Train, the world’s largest cleft‑focused organization, concluded the Indo‑Africa Cleft Conference 2026 in Goa, India, under the theme “Synergy 2026: Excelling Together”. The two‑day event brought together more than 160 cleft‑care professionals from India and Africa to advance sustainable, locally led cleft care.
Attendance and Participants
The conference assembled surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, speech therapists, orthodontists and other multidisciplinary cleft‑care specialists from Smile Train’s two largest regions, reinforcing a commitment to knowledge exchange and capacity building.
Program Highlights
The agenda featured expert discussions, hands‑on workshops on surgical excellence, patient safety and comprehensive cleft care, and sessions on advocacy, community engagement and health‑system strengthening, emphasizing that sustainable cleft care extends beyond surgery.
Impact Statistics
Smile Train’s Africa programmes, launched in 2002, now operate in nearly 40 countries and have transformed the lives of more than 200,000 cleft‑affected individuals. In India, since 2000 the organization has supported over 800,000 free cleft surgeries through a network of more than 130 partner hospitals.
Leadership Statements
Mamta Carroll, Senior Vice President and Regional Director, Asia, Smile Train, said the conference reflects the belief that sustainable change occurs through shared expertise and equal partnership. Nkeiruka Obi, Vice President and Regional Director, Africa, added that South‑South collaboration can accelerate access to quality cleft care for children and families across both regions.