Providing access to safe cleft surgery and comprehensive care starts with community engagement.
Last week the Operation Smile South Africa team traveled to Intsika Yethu Municipality in rural Eastern Cape, to deliver a two-day cleft community outreach, awareness and training programme in collaboration with local NGO, Igwiba Lesizwe.
800 community members attended, including school children from 5 local schools. Learners received donated dental & hygiene packs and were taught about the importance of good oral health.
On the second day, Community Health Workers learnt about cleft conditions, treatment pathways and how to identify and care for a cleft patient.
Special thanks to the Eastern Cape Department of Health for supporting with their Mobile Clinic which provided health and vaccination services to the community.