News & Events
Another successful surgical programme completed at the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Mthatha
Our Operation Smile team traveled to Mthatha over the weekend of 1-3 November to bring life changing surgery to cleft patients from the surrounding rural areas.
How AI is helping Operation Smile bring cleft care to remote regions.
Operation Smile, together with Microsoft, is piloting an AI programme to assist in patient diagnosis and educating surgeons in remote areas.
Operation Smile gives Maurice a second chance at life
In 2022, Operation Smile facilitated an application from the Minister of Health DRC to the South African Minister of Health for Maurice to receive surgery in South Africa.
Story of faith and perseverance – Kayol’s 8-year journey to cleft surgery
Kayol’s story is testament to a father’s love and how faith and perseverance combined to change a child’s life.
40 children receive life-changing surgery at Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital
From 24-28 July at the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital in Johannesburg, Operation Smile and The Smile Foundation joined forces for a Madiba Smile Relay surgical programme to help children born with cleft lip.
Weekend dental programme attracts schoolkids
A total of 81 children benefitted from the recent weekend dental programme at Rob Ferreira Hospital in Nelspruit.
Moments of joy and gratitude at Rob Ferreira Hospital, Mbombela
From the early preparations to the final moments of joy and gratitude, every second was a testament to the power of unity and compassion at Operation Smile SA.
Importance of dentistry in patients with cleft lip and palate
One of the main goals of Operation Smile worldwide is to provide opportunities for local doctors, dentists, and therapists to acquire the specialised knowledge they need to assist children and adults born with cleft conditions in their communities. Twenty...
Operation Smile receives Batho Pele Award
Operation Smile South Africa is proud and honoured to have been awarded the Batho Pele Service Excellence and Innovation Award from the Department of Health, Eastern Cape.
Another successful surgical programme at Rob Ferreira Hospital in Mpumalanga
Operation Smile South Africa recently completed another successful surgical programme at Rob Ferreira Hospital in Mbombela.
Pondo 2024 – running for children and conservation
Next week 140 runners from across the country will gather at the Wild Coast Sun for the start of the 2024 PONDO Trail. Their goal: to complete the 103km run (either in a one day ULTRA or three-day COASTER) and raise funds for the Pondoland Conservation Trust and Operation Smile.
Akhanyile gets her smile!
Akhanyile doesn’t smile much. And even though she’s only two, she often reaches up to cover her mouth with her hand. She knows she’s different.
Miles for Smiles – running along the coast of Ghana for Operation Smile
During March, adventurers David Grier and Andrew Stuart will be running 160 kms along the coastline in Accra, Ghana to raise funds for cleft surgery.
Community Healthcare Workers’ training in Mpumalanga
In February 2024, Operation Smile’s Mpumalanga Patient Coordinator, Dakalo Maguga, supported the Department of Health in presenting a community outreach training programme.
Mr Beast gets behind Operation Smile
Last November, during a visit to Puebla, Mexico, the Beast Philanthropy team witnessed firsthand the life-changing work done by Operation Smile.
2023 COSECSA Conference, Graduation, and Annual Meeting
Recognizing the challenges in the current medical education system, Operation Smile forged a pivotal partnership with COSECSA, the largest surgical training institution in Sub-Saharan Africa, in 2021.
Bigger and Better – 2023 Cycle for Smiles raises over R100 000
What an amazing group of cyclists we had participating in this year’s Cycle for Smiles to raise funds for Operation Smile. Collectively, they raised almost R105000 towards free, safe surgery for children born with cleft lip or palate
Building Local Capacity – Operation Smile runs training workshops in Mthatha
Around 25 delegates, mostly locally based Eastern Cape Government employed dentists and dental technicians attended our recent training workshop in Mthata, while seven delegates attended our speech therapy training workshop.
Operation Smile welcomes new UCT Paediatric Anaesthesia Fellow
Dr Ncumisa Sabona has joined the global Operation Smile team as a paediatric anaesthesia in global surgery fellow. She was formally welcomed to the team during our recent surgical programme in Mthatha.
Medical volunteers transform young lives
If you’ve been following the story of 2-year-old Ntlelo on our website, you’ll be delighted to hear that she was one of 22 children and adults who received life changing surgery last weekend during Operation Smile SA’s surgical programme in Mthatha.
Endurance athletes raise more than R1m for Operation Smile
Dan Meyer’s bicycle was playing up, and steadily getting worse. If he’d been at home in Cape Town, it wouldn’t have been a problem. But he was alone in a deserted area of the US with 50km and a mountain range between him and the nearest repair shop. “The...
South African adventurers, David Grier and Andrew Stuart, to run 1 500km for Operation Smile
Extreme South African adventurer, David Grier, and running partner Andrew Stuart are attempting to run 1,500km down the entire coastline of Portugal and Madeira to raise funds for Operation Smile.
A father’s struggle to get help for his son
Even though there is a history of cleft palate in their family, when little Seipati was born, his parents didn't realise he was affected. During her pregnancy, his mother went for routine ultrasound scans. But they failed to pick up the condition. After his...
Shout out to our amazing volunteers
In the sixteen years since Operation Smile South Africa was established, we’ve gathered together a team of 120 active volunteers. These selfless people from all walks of life are the foundation of our work.
Operation Smile donates dental equipment to Rob Ferreira Hospital
The Rob Ferreira Hospital’s dental outreach and oral health awareness programme received a boost recently when Operation Smile South Africa, with support from Mafube Coal and ICAP, donated mobile dental equipment.
Mbombela Surgical Programme transforms lives
No fewer than 23 people with cleft lip and cleft palate – most of them children – were given new smiles last weekend at Rob Ferreira Hospital, Mbombela.
Miles for Smiles – Cipla staff take on The Pondo Trail
Eight runners from Cipla South Africa will embark on the 103 km Pondo Trail Run challenge from 24 – 28 May 2023 to raise awareness and funds for Miles for Smiles.
Partnership with UCT aims to improve cleft research and surgery
On 11 April, 2023, the University of Cape Town announced that it had entered into a R2 million partnership with Operation Smile, with the goal of improving cleft research and surgical capacity.
Community Outreach programme key to providing access to safe cleft surgery
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
Link between air pollution and cleft conditions
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.
