Operation Smile estimates that a child is born with a cleft every three minutes, making it the third most common birth defect.
Ideally, corrective surgery should be carried out within the first 18 months of life. In many parts of South Africa and Africa, where the public health system is overburdened and under-resourced, safe surgery is not always freely available or accessible, and a child may have to wait years for the chance to live a normal life.
Without surgery, children with clefts face serious and debilitating long-term health problems and will probably suffer from emotional abuse and isolation.
Working alongside local governments, hospitals and other nonprofits, and supported by generous donors, Operation Smile specializes in providing expert cleft surgery and comprehensive care for people where it’s most needed. They empower local health professionals through training and education to create surgical solutions that last.
Since 2006 Operation Smile South Africa has been a driving force in the delivery of safe cleft surgery and care benefiting hundreds of patients in South Africa and in neighbouring countries. They have over 120 active volunteers who serve on local and international surgical programmes.
Operation Smile South Africa is proud to partner with KY-ND to provide new smiles and brighter futures for more children with clefts.
For more information, please visit: https://operationsmile.org.za/