Operation Smile South Africa

Children deserve access to the very best care available. At Operation Smile we believe all children deserve to be treated as if they were our own. That’s what drives each and every one of us. We dream of a world where no child suffers from lack of access to safe surgery. It’s our promise and our responsibility to these patients that no one is left behind. If you know of anyone with a cleft lip or cleft palate who needs help, please reach out and let us know. Visit https://operationsmile.org.za/
Call or WhatsApp: 073 580 6714

Operation Smile South Africa Operation Smile, a non-profit volunteer medical organization that provides free reconstructive facial

Reflecting on the surgical program during July at Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital in Johannesburg, Operation Smile provided life-changing surgery for 40 children affected by cleft lip and cleft palate. The weekend surgical programme was part of the first Madiba Smile Relay, a collaboration between Operation Smile, Smile Foundation and Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital, which aimed to provide world-class surgery free of charge for 67 children, in honour of Madiba’s 67-year struggle for social justice.

Most of the tiny patients came from Gauteng, although some travelled from as far away as the North West and Northern Cape. All of them, along with their parents or guardians, received compassionate care and support, free of charge, thanks to the amazing generosity of our partners and donors.
Radisson Blu Hotel Sandton, Johannesburg Aramex South Africa Active Aligners SA Probe IMT MSC Mediterranean Shipping Co The Zone Rosebank AbbVie Tata Group Cipla South Africa MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet Cipla Foundation South Africa .sa DHL Africa Naturefresh Products School Europcar Kudala Wealth

https://operationsmile.org.za/40-children-receive-life-changing-surgery-during-the-madiba-smile-relay/

40 children receive life-changing surgery at Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital - Operation Smile South Africa 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.

Happy and ! This week we celebrate our commitment to provide mothers with information and resources for breastfeeding support in their local community, including mother-to-mother support groups.

Operation Smile believes that human milk is the optimal source of nutrition for infants? In alignment with the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, our nutrition efforts aim to protect, promote and support exclusive human milk feeding (via breastfeeding or expressed breastmilk feeding) for the first six months of life and continued human milk feeding, along with age-appropriate complementary foods, up to 2 years old and beyond.
https://operationsmile.org.za/breastfeeding-challenges-for-moms-of-babies-born-with-cleft/

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In line with our goal to increase the number of internationally credentialled dentists, Operation Smile SA partnered with the University of Pretoria ’s (UP) Department of Prosthodontics in Oral and Dental Health Sciences, to host a one-day Cleft Lip and Palate Education Day on Monday 29 July. Twenty five participants attended, including 9 Operation Smile dental volunteers (existing and prospective). Presenters included Department Professors, as well as Operation Smile volunteer educators, Dr Marius van der Walt (dental) and Erika Bostock (speech).

A huge congratulations to our amazing team at Operation Smile SA for completing a successful surgical program at Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital this past weekend!

Your dedication and hard work have brought smiles and hope to so many children in need. Thank you to all our sponsors, volunteers and supporters for making a difference in the lives of these young patients and their families. Your commitment to changing lives through your work is truly inspiring.

Here’s to many more successful surgical programs ahead! 💙💫
Radisson Blu Hotel Sandton, Johannesburg Aramex South Africa Active Aligners SA Probe IMT MSC Mediterranean Shipping Co The Zone Rosebank AbbVie Tata Group Cipla South Africa Cipla Foundation South Africa Universal Health Killarney Mall DHL Africa Ardagh Glass Packaging - Africa Naturefresh Products MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet Europcar Nelson Mandela Children's Hospital Kudala Wealth

The Compassionate Heart of Operation Smile SA 🇿🇦

Meet Dakalo Maguga, who stands as the Patient Coordinator for Operation Smile SA, a beacon of hope and support for those in need. 💫

A social worker by profession, Dakalo plays a crucial role in guiding patients through the journey of comprehensive cleft care. He provides training in rural communities, breaking down barriers and offering understanding to healthcare workers and patients alike.

As the bridge between patients and access to care, Dakalo’s ability to speak multiple languages allows him to connect deeply with individuals, easing their fears and preparing them for the transformative process ahead.

Dakalo’s unwavering dedication, empathy, and compassion shine through in every interaction, offering comfort, reassurance, and hope to those seeking healing and restoration. 💙

In the tapestry of Operation Smile South Africa, Dakalo Maguga’s story is one of resilience, empathy, and unwavering commitment to changing lives one smile at a time.

We love you Dakalo! 🌟🌟🌟

Focused minds, steady hands - surgical magic in progress!💫

To All the Dads 💙

We want to take a moment to honour the incredible dads standing strong by their children’s side. Your unwavering support, love, and strength are the pillars that uphold your families during challenging times.

To the dads pacing the waiting rooms, offering words of encouragement, wiping away tears, and holding hands with a steady grip – your dedication is a beacon of inspiration. Your love knows no bounds 💓💫💓

“Its a good day to transform lives” 🌟🌟🌟

A big thank you to The Zone Rosebank for generously providing the meals that keep our dedicated medical staff and volunteers fueled and ready for surgery.

We are grateful for your kindness and generosity! 💫

Surgery Day 🌟🌟🌟

Today is a day of new beginnings and endless possibilities as we embark on the inaugural day of surgeries at the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital in Gauteng.

The air is filled with anticipation and hope as our compassionate team gears up to transform the lives of our young patients, one smile at a time! ☺️😊☺️

Together, we are rewriting the stories of these brave children and shaping a brighter tomorrow. 🌟💙

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Today, our dedicated medical staff and volunteers were treated to a heartwarming lunch, courtesy of !

Your generosity not only filled our stomachs but also filled our hearts with gratitude. Thank you for supporting our mission to bring smiles to those in need. 🍔🥤

A massive thank you to one of our amazing sponsors, ! We are so grateful for all the wonderful toys and snack drop off for our Moms and tots! 🥰🤗

Today is a day of hope and possibility as we carefully screen patients for our upcoming surgeries. 😍

Each screening brings us closer to changing lives and spreading smiles. With each evaluation, we see the potential for transformation and the power of compassionate care.

Join us in this journey of healing and renewal as we work together to make a difference, one patient at a time. 💙✨

There’s nothing more incredibly heartwarming and special than being able to help someone without expecting anything in return.
Our beloved Madiba knew that. That’s why we honour his legacy every Mandela Day by spending 67 minutes in service to make the world a better place. And in return, we experience the heartwarming satisfaction that comes from helping others.
This July, Operation Smile is delivering a surgical programme in Gauteng – giving local children born with cleft lip or palate access to free, world-class surgery they might otherwise never get.
And we’re inviting you to be part of it.
You might not be able to perform life-changing surgery on a child with a cleft lip or palate, but your donation in celebration of Mandela Day is just as important.
Because, without funds to bring the medical team together and pay for medical supplies like drugs, antiseptic, dressings, scrubs, masks and gloves – we couldn’t do the work we do.
Please consider making a donation this Mandela Day.
Instead of 67 minutes of your time, give R10 per minute for a donation of R670 towards surgery for a child born with a cleft. https://operationsmile.org.za/mandela-day/

Get your swipes in now and stand a chance to win a life-changing R20,000 for yourself and a further R20 000 to support your chosen beneficiary.
Did you know your swipes could change lives?
Having a MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet MyVillage card gives you the opportunity to make a difference to a child born with a cleft condition, one swipe at a time! ❤️

Here's how to enter:
💥 You need to be a MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet card holder. If you're not, sign up with MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet today. Visit our website or click on this link: https://bit.ly/47dmGSR
💥 You need to have at least 1 beneficiary linked to your profile. You can find the details on how to do this on our website.
💥 Spend R500 or more at WOOLWORTHS and swipe your MySchool card, on or before the 30 June 2024 for an entry.
That's it!! Good luck! 🙌 Ts&Cs apply.

Last week, our Mthatha Surgical Program patients received their 6-month post-op screening at Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital! Dr Bruce Lelala, an Operation Smile volunteer plastic surgeon conducted the assessments, ensuring our patients get the ongoing care they need. This crucial step helps us plan further treatments like dental procedures, speech therapy, or additional surgeries. Thank you to all involved in supporting our patients' continued health and well-being!

Did you know that Operation Smile is pioneering research into the causes of cleft conditions?

During the May surgical program in Lilongwe, Malawi, the International Family Study (IFS) team, led by Project Manager Devin Feigelson, collected the 18,000th DNA sample for the global study, which contributes to the world's scientific research being conducted to determine the environmental and genetic risk factors that may lead to cleft development in children throughout the world. In partnership with the University of Southern California and Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Operation Smile's IFS research is an ongoing, population-sampled case-control study in nine countries to examine genetic, environmental, lifestyle and sociodemographic risk factors for nonsyndromic cleft that may be unique to populations served by Operation Smile. Malawi is the most recent country to join the IFS research project. Congratulations to our cleft research team on this milestone!

On this special day, we want to send our warmest wishes to all the amazing fathers, father figures, and mentors in our community. Happy Father's Day!

Fathers have a unique way of demonstrating strength, compassion, and commitment. Whether you are providing for your family, offering support, or giving your time and resources to help others, you embody the true spirit of fatherhood and community.

Clara and Dede’s story - a father's dedication to finding the help he needed for his daughter. https://youtu.be/_zDLj7luHgs

Clara was born with a severe cleft lip and cleft palate. Her mother was too overwhelmed to breastfeed her and even refused to acknowledge Clara as her own child. She walked away, leaving Dede, Clara's father, to unconditionally accept and love his daughter and take on the challenge of finding a solution for her.
It took him six years.
Dede expressed his anguish, saying, "When Clara goes to school, she is constantly teased and bullied. The other children mock her because they can't understand her. She avoids going outside and misses school often."
A successful surgery would mean everything to Clara and Dede, who said: "I would be the happiest father in the world."