press release Chevron Sponsors Facial Reconstruction Surgeries for 70 in Sylhet

DHAKA, Nov. 3, 2019 – On November 2nd, 2019, Chevron Bangladesh held a formal ceremony in Sylhet to mark the end of Rotaplast International’s mission. As part of the mission, 70 patients – mostly children, living near Chevron’s Jalalabad gas-plant received free life-changing reconstructive surgeries to correct cleft-lip, cleft-palate, and other facial anomalies and burns. The 10-day mission was sponsored by Chevron and was conducted in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Jalalabad and Parkview Medical College & Hospital. Over 25 volunteers took part in this Sylhet mission. The team included reconstructive plastic surgeons, anesthesiologists, pediatricians, speech pathologists, orthodontists and nurses. 

Attending the event were Mr. Ariful Haque Choudhury, Mayor, Sylhet City Corporation; Dr. Anne DeLaney, Medical Team Leader, Rotaplast; Dr. Monzurul Hoque Choudhury, Past District Governor, Rotary International, Bangladesh, and Chief Coordinator, Rotaplast Mission 2019; Ismail Chowdhury, Director of Corporate Affairs, Chevron Bangladesh; Neil Menzies, President of Chevron Bangladesh. Also present was Dr. Md. Abdus Salam, Director of Parkview Medical College & Hospital, where the procedures were conducted. 

A project of the Rotary Club of San Francisco, Rotaplast International is a non-profit, humanitarian organization, which sends multidisciplinary medical teams to provide free reconstructive surgeries, ancillary treatment, and training for the comprehensive care of children with cleft lip and palate anomalies. It works with local professionals, Rotarians, and other organizations, and supports education and research towards prevention of cleft lip and/or palates. 

Chevron’s association with Rotaplast began in 2013. Since then, over 500 patients have received over 570 life-changing surgeries through this partnership.

Sylhet City Corporation Mayor, Mr. Choudhury expressed his appreciation for Rotaplast International, Chevron Bangladesh and the Rotary Club of Jalalabad for their collaborative support of this Mission. Chevron President Mr. Menzies said, “These reconstructive surgeries truly change lives for the better, providing patients with an opportunity to lead normal lives and to reach their full potential. At Chevron Bangladesh, we are proud to support this life-changing program.” Chevron’s Corporate Affairs Director, Mr. Chowdhury said, “Through our corporate social responsibility initiatives, Chevron seeks to support Bangladesh’s progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Health, education and economic development are the core areas of focus for our social investment programs.” Speaking on behalf of Rotaplast, Dr. DeLaney said, “I would like to thank the real heroes - the parents who brought their children and entrusted their precious gifts to the Rotaplast team.”