MBOMBELA – Giving birth to a child with any form of deformity is every mother’s nightmare.
In an attempt to correct mouth deformities, Operation Smile South Africa recently conducted medical surgery for over 43 people with cleft lip and palates from around the country at Rob Ferreira Hospital in Mbombela.
Mothers came with their babies from various parts of the country including the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and other provinces. Their travel and medical expenses, accommodation and meals were all provided free of charge, courtesy of the organisation.
One of the mothers, Ms Olga Khunou from KaNyamazane, said she nearly collapsed after giving birth to her daughter Lungile who had a cleft palate. “I couldn’t understand what was happening. I asked God so many questions such as why me, and why my child. It was my first time seeing this type of deformity. She underwent surgery by Operation Smile in September last year and I am so happy with the results,” she exclaimed.
Khunou added that her child was able to speak a month after the operation and she now had a completely new appearance.
“We provide the best patient care and what is more important to us is to see them healthy. We also help them get ready for the surgery. Our team includes plastic surgeons, dentists, speech therapists, nutritionists and others,” explained the organisation’s communication officer, Mr Seun Robson.
Operation Smile South Africa’s mission was launched in 2006. Its offices are based in Cape Town and it provides volunteer support; raise funds and build awareness about cleft conditions worldwide. They provide free surgery to repair cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities of children around the globe.
The organisation has helped 383 people in this country over the past 10 years, 6 000 on the African continent and 240 000 worldwide.
