During our recent Surgical and Dental Programme in Mthatha, Operation Smile South Africa – in partnership with the Eastern Cape Department of Health and the Department of Health South Africa – reached more than 1,000 people through free cleft surgeries, dental care, and oral health education.
Minister of Health, Doctor Pakishe Aaron Motsoaledi, commended the impact of this collaboration, highlighting the life-changing effects of cleft surgery and access to oral healthcare.
“We are deeply grateful to Operation Smile South Africa and all partners who make this possible,” he said. “Globally, the importance of oral health has been recognised through the World Health Organisation’s Global Strategy on Oral Health, which emphasises governance, health promotion and prevention, workforce development, oral health care information systems and research.”
Watch the Minister’s full message above to see how partnerships like these are transforming smiles – and lives – across South Africa:
