Wing (Cambodia) Limited Specialised Bank and Smile Cambodia on Saturday signed off an agreement as partners in promoting free operations nationwide to Cambodian patients with facial deformities including cleft lip and palate.

Under the agreement, Wing will assist Smile Cambodia in promoting free surgery to Cambodians with cleft lip and palate, and other facial deformities through Wing’s wide range of communication platforms, including its social media platforms and website, the Wing Money App and Wing Cash Xpress kiosks.

“The mouth is a significant part of the human body. However, some children suffer from cleft lip leading to eating, communication and confidence issues,” said Manu Rajan, the CEO of Wing. “We feel their pain and aim to improve the quality of life of people and young Cambodians living with cleft lip and palate.”

As one of the leading specialised banks in Cambodia, Wing has embedded a strong spirit of social contribution among its employees and in their daily business operations. Wing is committed to making a better Cambodia in all ways, and so our corporate social responsibility programmes cover financial literacy, health and safety, community development, education and gender diversity, he added.

“This partnership with Wing will allow us to reach out to a wider section of the population with cleft lip and cleft palate, and other facial deformities across Cambodia as Wing has very strong communication channels,” said Chan Kok Choy, the executive director of Smile Cambodia. “We feel the suffering of the patients, and we want them to live their lives with bright smiles and confidence. We want to treat those untreated patients suffering from cleft lip and palate, and other facial deformities. We will organise surgical operations in various provinces to treat them and give them a better future.”

With patients with cleft lip often hesitant to socialise, causing psychological issues, Smile Cambodia is firmly committed to continuing the noble cause of providing free surgery to Cambodians with cleft lip and palate, and other facial deformities, it said.

Over the past five years, Smile Cambodia has provided free surgery to around 1,400 patients with support from Smile Asia, Rotary Club of Likas Bay, Rotary Club of Lu Chou & I-LAN, Taiwan, Face to Face, USA, MdM, Australia, among others. We have more than 50 local volunteers -- including surgeons, anaesthesiologists and nurses -- who are well experienced and who have supported Smile Cambodia’s surgical operations, it added.

From now on, the close to 8,000 Wing Cash Xpress outlets across the Kingdom will join in the effort to brighten the lives of children in Cambodia.