Operation Smile to commence on Jan. 20

CEBU, Philippines - Now on its 19th year, the Operation Smile Cebu Mission (OCSM) will begin accepting children with cleft-lip palate and other facial deformities for a free surgery which normally cost around P60,000 to P100,000 in a private hospital.

The OSCM is sponsored by Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung Charitable Foundation Inc. (MSYCFI), which has been sponsoring the mission for the last 18 years.

Ramona Aliño, MSYCFI executive director, said that registration is done in all barangay health clinics in Cebu City and Cebu province beginning January 20 until February 20.

She said the screening will be on February 25 at Visayas Community Medical Center (VCMC) on Osmeña Boulevard, Cebu City from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The scheduled surgeries will be held on February 28 to March 2 from 7am to 4pm and on March 3 from 7 a.m. to 12 noon, which will also be held at VCMC.

For the past 18 years, more than 4,000 children with cleft lip and cleft palate and other facial deformities have benefitted from the mission, Aliño said.

"Last year, 121 children have undergone the free surgeries. This year, we hope to operate more than last year," said Aliño.

An international team of surgeons, pediatricians, anesthesiologists and nurses in partnership with local medical practitioners will undertake the reconstructive surgery on patients from the Visayas and Mindanao.

"This is not exclusive for the Cebuanos. Even as far as Mindanao we can cater them provided they passed during the screening," she added.

Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung, the foundation's chairperson, had assured that the OSCM will continue as helping kids with such facial defects is a fulfilling cause and can help lead them to a brighter future.

According to Operation Smile, oral cleft palate is one of the country's leading congenital defects, afflicting one in every 500 newborns or a total of 5,000 Filipinos every year. (FREEMAN)