About Operation Smile Sweden
Operation Smile Sweden: Bringing Smiles to Children with Cleft Lip and Palate
Operation Smile Sweden is a non-profit organization that aims to provide free surgical care and support to children born with cleft lip, cleft palate, and other facial deformities. The organization was founded in 1982 by Dr. William P. Magee Jr., a plastic surgeon, and his wife Kathleen Magee, a nurse and clinical social worker.
Since its inception, Operation Smile has provided life-changing surgeries to over 300,000 children in more than 60 countries around the world. The organization's mission is to ensure that every child born with a cleft condition has access to safe surgery and comprehensive care.
Cleft lip and palate are among the most common birth defects worldwide. These conditions occur when the tissues that form the lips or roof of the mouth do not fuse properly during fetal development. As a result, affected children may have difficulty speaking, eating, hearing or breathing properly.
In many developing countries where medical resources are limited or inaccessible for most people living in poverty-stricken areas; families often cannot afford treatment for their children's cleft conditions which can lead them into isolation from society due to stigma attached with such deformities.
Operation Smile Sweden works tirelessly towards providing these families with hope by offering free surgical care through medical missions conducted throughout different parts of the world including Africa & Asia where they have established long-term partnerships with local hospitals & healthcare providers.
The organization also provides education on proper nutrition & hygiene practices as well as speech therapy services for patients who require it post-surgery so they can lead normal lives like any other child without any hindrance caused by their condition.
One of Operation Smile Sweden's core values is sustainability; they believe in empowering local communities through training programs so that they can continue providing quality care even after their departure from an area where they have conducted medical missions previously.
The team at Operation Smile Sweden comprises highly skilled surgeons who volunteer their time & expertise towards this noble cause along with nurses & other healthcare professionals who work together tirelessly towards ensuring successful outcomes for each patient treated under their program.
In addition to providing surgical care directly through medical missions; Operation Smile also advocates for policy changes at national levels aimed at improving access to quality healthcare services especially those related specifically towards treating cleft conditions which will help reduce disparities between developed nations versus developing ones when it comes down addressing such issues affecting vulnerable populations globally.
Conclusion:
Operation Smile Sweden is an incredible non-profit organization dedicated solely towards helping children born with facial deformities live normal lives like any other child without being stigmatized due to their appearance. Their commitment towards sustainable solutions ensures that communities benefitting from their program continue receiving quality care even after completion of medical missions conducted within those areas previously.
Their advocacy efforts aimed at policy changes will help improve access globally while reducing disparities between developed versus developing nations when it comes down addressing such issues affecting vulnerable populations worldwide.
If you're looking for ways you can contribute positively towards making this world better place then consider supporting organizations like Operation smile because every little bit counts!