CMS Supports Orphan Orthodontic Project

Monday, 26 April 2010, Kuching – With big smiles all round, CMS’ Group Managing Director, Dato’ Richard Curtis, happily presented the Group’s contribution of RM50,000 in support of a new project to give free orthodontic care to orphans in Sarawak. CMS’ donation was presented to the Chief Minister of Sarawak at a dinner event held here last Saturday night to launch the ‘Laila Taib Smile of Hope’ orphan project.

For all of Malaysia’s population of 26 million, the country currently has only 117 specialist orthodontists, demonstrating the grave shortage of dental specialists who are able to provide such treatment. Orthodontics is a dental speciality that concerns itself with genetic variations and developmental aberrations in the dento-facial area, which is the growth and development of the face, jaws and teeth.

With few qualified specialist orthodontists and a large demand for such treatment, the provision of orthodontic care for the poor and needy is often neglected. Private sector care costs between RM10,000 – 15,000 for an 18-month treatment course.

Given this scenario, the Malaysian Association of Orthodontists (MAO) is collaborating with the Sarawak State Government to provide such care to less fortunate communities in the State. The first community project by MAO is called the ‘Laila Taib Smile of Hope’ project which aims to provide complimentary and voluntary orthodontic care to selected orphans in Sarawak. The project is also a first in Malaysia, and MAO hopes to eventually extend it to become a national project throughout Malaysia.

The Sarawak State Government kick-started the project with a RM100,000 contribution. Another RM150,000 was raised in donations at the launch event including the RM50,000 donation from CMS.