Happiness is only a smile away

NELSPRUIT – Operation Smile dramatically improved the lives of 35 children during the organisation’s visit to Rob Ferreira Hospital this week. The operations also have a profound effect on the children’s family – parents leave with beaming smiles, astounded at the wonderful change in their children. Operation Smile is an international organisation that provides free surgery for children with a cleft lip and/or cleft palate. Listen to Ms. Sarah Driver-Jowitt explain what operation smile is about: https://soundcloud.com/lowvelder/operation-smile

This is more common than most people realise, with one in 1 000 children being born with one of the two conditions. The sad truth is, however, that one in eight of them die before they are a year old as they struggle to feed. Up to 80 per cent who don’t have surgery before five, develop significant hearing loss.

Operation Smile Southern Africa first visited Rob Ferreira Hospital in 2006 and was invited back by the hospital and the Department of Health. The three entities are hoping to create the capacity for local treatment. Mpumalanga is one of only two provinces which don’t have a specialist unit, yet it is desperately needed.

Ms Emmie Landman, nursing manager at Rob Ferreira, says Operation Smile makes nurses’ work extremely rewarding. “The staff and the child’s family see immediate results. And it’s a mind-boggling and life-changing procedure,” she said. A patient’s mother, Ms Nomthandazo Thobela, said that it was a very stressful but exciting time for her. “Life will be better now. It’s amazing. He’ll eat better now,” she said, a big smile on her face.One of Operation Smile’s greatest challenges is to raise awareness about these conditions. People can call 0800 0SMILE/76459 to be referred to the nearest hospital that can treat cleft lips and palates. Ms Sarah Driver-Jowitt, regional director of Operation Smile Southern Africa, said people without access to a telephone could also go to their district hospitals or Rob Ferreira to be referred.

Dr Gladys Koete, acting CEO of Rob Ferreira Hospital, urged people to spread the information. “Our community should be made aware of it. Every baby who is born should be examined thoroughly by a doctor,” she said.

Driver-Jowitt continued by saying that mothers should be aware that a child’s cleft lip or palate is not their fault. “It isn’t because of anything they did, it is just unfortunate,” she concluded. The organisations are also trying to de-stigmatise the condition, as many people think the affected child is cursed and is then left to die.While cleft lips are easily visible, a cleft palate is more difficult to detect. Signs to look for if you suspect a child has a cleft palate are: he isn’t putting on weight as he should and struggles to eat.

Hear what Driver-Jowitt says about surgery:

Visit www.southafrica.operationsmile.org.za for more information.

Operation Smile would like to thank all the generous donors who made the Nelspruit event a great success. Their contributions made a wonderful difference in the lives of the patients and their families.