We’ve just returned from Mthatha with full hearts, after our most successful surgical programme to date.
No fewer than 41 patients – most of them children – received life-changing cleft surgery; 2 adults were fitted with special obturators and 568 people benefitted from free dental care, during the four-day programme.
Our Operation Smile surgical team included 45 specialist medical volunteers, who gave their time and expertise absolutely free of charge. But there were countless others helping to make the programme a success. Partners, local businesses and donors – including individuals who chipped in with anything from R100 up towards medical supplies, transport and other costs.
Every single person played their part – and proved what’s possible when we join together to make good things happen. Thank you all so much!
Among those who received surgery was 26-year-old Yamkela Joyi. She had cleft surgery as a young child, but was left with a prominent scar on her lip. Two decades later, she still receives hurtful comments about her appearance.
“There are cruel things that strangers have said about my lip that I simply cannot unhear,” she said.
Through a chance encounter with an Operation Smile volunteer at the coffee shop where she works, Yamkela was encouraged to find out whether further treatment might be possible.
She came to our patient screening day on 30 October for assessment, and was cleared for surgery the next day. For Yamkela, the cherry on top was finding out that Operation Smile volunteer surgeon, Dr Bruce Lelala, would perform the operation.
Dr Lelala grew up in Matatiele in the Eastern Cape, making his contribution to the Mthatha surgical programme even more meaningful.
Opportunities for learning
But just as important as the number of patients treated, was creating opportunities for learning, mentorship and skills development.
During the surgical programme Operation Smile volunteer educators were paired with trainees across multiple disciplines involved in comprehensive cleft care, such as surgery, anaesthesia, speech and dental. By investing in education Operation Smile is helping to strengthen specialist cleft services within our local healthcare system and improve access to safe surgery and quality cleft care for more patients in the future.
Alongside the surgical programme, the Eastern Cape Department of Health (ECDOH) with support from Operation Smile, provided free dental care for 568 people at the Mthatha Regional Hospital. Essential treatments – such as extractions, scale and polishing and restorations – were provided along with oral health awareness, education and screening by a team of 30 dedicated dental health professionals from the ECDOH.
This was Operation Smile’s fourth consecutive surgical programme in Mthatha, building on our long-standing partnership with the Eastern Cape Department of Health.
Since 2008, we have supported specialist cleft lip and palate surgery in various parts of the province, working alongside local healthcare professionals to improve access to care, while strengthening the local health system through capacity building.
By bringing specialist volunteers together with local healthcare professionals, we provide opportunities for knowledge sharing, skills development and multidisciplinary collaboration.
Thank you for supporting Operation Smile.
Click here to be part of the next surgical programme.
