While the majority of babies born are perfectly healthy, a small percentage (6%) are born with congenital conditions. How serious are these conditions? And what can you do to reduce your chances of having a child affected by abnormalities?

Modern ultrasound scans are a routine part of prenatal care. Because they are non-invasive, painless and safe for both mother and unborn baby, they are ideal for monitoring foetal development and weight. They are also useful in helping to identify conditions such as a cleft lip or palate.

  The MySchool programme, which ran for over 27 years, is a South African fundraising success story. Originally established to help parents raise funds for their children’s school, the concept expanded to include ‘villages’ and the ‘planet’, as other worthy...

Did you know that donations to Operation Smile South Africa are tax deductible in terms of Section 18A of the Income Tax Act 58 of 1962?

Rhinoplasty, commonly known as a ‘nose job’ is a surgical procedure for repairing or altering the appearance of the nose.

An obturator is a custom-made plate designed to close a gap between the roof of the mouth (palate) and the nasal cavity. Its primary function is to stop food and drink from entering the nasal passage.

For moms of babies born with cleft conditions, breastfeeding may be a challenge. Owing to structural abnormalities in the lip or mouth, infants born with a cleft lip or palate may not be able to latch onto the breast to create a seal.

Along with the satisfaction of helping someone else, racing for charity will do wonders for your own fitness. You’ll enjoy a feeling of real accomplishment.

While every child is different, there is a good chance that those born with a cleft palate will need some form of speech and language therapy. This is true even if the cleft is repaired before the child starts talking.

Could exposure to air pollution during pregnancy increase the chances of women giving birth to children with cleft lip and palate? Yes, according to recent research by the SA Medical Research Council.

Four decades after Dr. Bill and Kathy Magee’s first Operation Smile surgical programme in the Philippines in 1982, the founding principles of love and leadership have been passed down through generations.

Being part of a team, united in a common goal of wanting to help others, is what all of our Operation Smile volunteers rate most highly about the experience.

As a psychosocial care provider, Cathy has attended six Operation Smile surgical programmes. She uses therapeutic play and hands-on educational activities to help patients feel calm and prepared to enter the operating room.