KDF, Operation Smile to hold medical mission

STA. RITA -- The Kapampangan Development Foundation (KDF) on Friday announced its upcoming medical surgical mission in partnership with Operation Smile International on May 28 to June 4.

KDF Trustee Sylvia Ordonez told Sun.Star Pampanga that the mission will be the biggest surgery operations ever conducted by Operation Smile outside of Visayas and Mindanao.

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Operation Smile is a children's charity treating facial deformities, such as cleft lips and cleft palates, all around the world.

“We will be doing operations on a target of 200 patients. There will be 40 local and international doctors who will be volunteering to do the operations absolutely free for children with facial deformities,” Ordonez said.

More than 200,000 children are born with a severe cleft condition each year all around the world often unable to eat, speak, socialize or smile. In some places these children are shunned and rejected. And in too many cases, their parents can't afford to give them the surgeries they need to live a normal life.

Ordonez said the operation aims to improve the lives of Kapampangan children who are faced with the social stigma of having facial deformities.

She said the up-coming operation is just the beginning of bigger operations.

Other host organizations for the coming event include Rotary Clubs in Pampanga, Sacop, Soroptimist Club, Lions Club, Clark Development Corporation (CDC), Provincial Government of Pampanga, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Health, and the Department of Education-Central Luzon.

Last year, some 110 children with cleft palate and harelip deformities availed of free reconstructive surgery recently at the Mother Theresa of Calcutta Medical Center here under the Operation Smile and KDF collaborative mission.

Ordonez also announced that the KDF is now accepting nominations and patients who would like to avail of the surgical services. Interested parties may visit the Social Action Center of Pampanga (Sacop) or inquire through the numbers (045) 961-4112 or through focal persons at the following numbers: 0919-682-4351 and 0918-929-2468.