Tuesday, May 08, 2007 Operation Smile to do medical mission for cleft lips, palates
THE Operation Smile Philippines Foundation Inc. (OSP) will be holding a free medical mission for indigent children and young adults afflicted with cleft lips and cleft palates at the Benguet General Hospital (BeGH) from May 16 to 18.
This would be the second time that OSP and its volunteers would be providing free reconstructive surgery for the children of Benguet, the first time being in November 2003, where OSP treated 33 patients.
This time, OSP volunteers would be ready to treat up to 70 patients.
Patients with oral cleft abnormalities such as cleft lip (harelip) and cleft palate (an opening at the roof of the mouth causing hypernasal speech (ngongo), and other facial deformities (tumors and moles) are to be operated on. Those with more serious facial abnormalities (meningocele and hemangioma) would also be screened for referral to Operation Smile's other missions.
Aside from the surgeries, patients would also be receiving speech evaluations and exercises on speech therapy.
Founded in Naga City in 1982 by American plastic surgeon Dr. William Magee and his wife, social worker and nurse Kathy, Operation Smile now operates in 25 mission countries around the globe, providing free reconstructive surgery to thousands of indigent children and young adults afflicted with cleft lip, cleft palate and other congenital facial deformities every year.
Clefting is a large medical and social problem that needs to be addressed. Philippine health statistics showed that cleft is among the top 12 congenital defects in the country. The incidence of this debilitating deformity is estimated at one in every 500 live births, meaning roughly 4,000 Filipinos are born every year with a cleft lip, a cleft palate or both.
Commercial reconstructive surgery costs anywhere from P60,000 to P100,000, which is absolutely beyond the means of the families of the cleft children, most of whom belong to the low income group. Left untreated, these children are doomed to a life of rejection because of their deformity, and often stop going to school. Lacking in education and interpersonal interaction, most would grow up with neither the social or work skills to find employment, rendering them unproductive members of society.
Thus, for the children who would be operated on in the Operation Smile missions, it would mean a new life.
In its 25-year history, Operation Smile has treated more than 100,000 children worldwide and almost 19,000 children and young adults in the Philippines.
This mission is conducted in cooperation with BeGH administered by Dr. Nicolas Gordo and the Municipal Health Office headed by Dr. Esteban Piok.
Screening of patients is scheduled from May 7 to 15. For further information, contact the BeGH Social Services Department at 422-4722 local 118.
