Operation Smile

Dr. Mwepu explains facial abnormalities to the journalists

Cape Town – An Operation Smile team of South African and international medical and non-medical volunteers will, in collaboration with the DRC Ministry of Health and several NGOs, provide free surgery to children and adults with cleft lips and cleft palates from May 20th to 29^th at the Clinique de Ngaliema.

This will be Operation Smile’s inaugural medical mission to the DRC, and follows several extensive fact find visits to Kinshasa, as well as a Basic Life Support (BLS) training program conducted at the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital in February during which 104 health care providers were trained and credentialed in BLS.

Operation Smile South Africa (OSSA) is a non-profit, volunteer medical services organisation that provides free reconstructive facial surgery, dental care and speech therapy, as well as the necessary follow up health care to children and adults around Southern and Central Africa with cleft lips and cleft palates.

These facial abnormalities are two of the most common yet severe birth defects in the world and are usually corrected shortly after birth in areas with sufficient access to health care. However, for most children in more rural or poorer parts of the world, medical treatment is not available. Often children suffering from cleft lips and cleft palates cannot eat, speak, breathe or hear properly, and an enormous stigma is attached to both facial deformities. All this can be changed in 45 minutes with a surgery that changes a person’s life forever.

For more information please contact:
Mr. Nusafiri at +243 99 821 3782 or pnrbcminisante@yahoo.fr / Scarlett Steer on +27 824162471 or scarlett.steer@operationsmile.org / or visit www.operationsmile.org.za.