We Filipinos are known around the world as one of the happiest people in the world, for we always have that ready smile in our face when we meet strangers, and even in times of calamities and hardships.
But there are people, especially children, that need a little help in sharing those beautiful smiles with the world. Because of facial deformities such as cleft lip and palate, they are being teased and ridiculed by peers.
According to Operation Smile Philippines (OSP), a non-profit medical service organization, it is estimated that in every 3 minutes, a child is born with a cleft lip or palate which affects their speech, hearing, and other day-to-day functions.
That’s why the organization has teamed up with Asus Philippines and ADRA Philippines to offer free operation for those with facial deformities around the country, and they will be here in Iloilo to perform safe surgery to be hosted by Qualimed Hospital this November 2017.
Qualimed Hospital Iloilo at Atria Park District, Mandurriao will host the free cleft lip and palate surgery.
The partnership of these benevolent entities is part of Until We Heal global campaign which “unites like-minded advocates and global health and world leaders to advance access to safe surgery for all people with cleft conditions.”
In Iloilo, they will be following this schedule:
Screening: Sunday, November 19, 2017 – 8AM
Operation: November 20-24, 2017
Venue: QualiMed Hospital, Donato Pison Avenue, San Rafael Mandurriao, Iloilo City
Cleft lip and palate patients will be provided with food, transportation costs, medicines and the actual surgery itself. To register a patient, you may contact Ziel Perez at 0915 875 2905, 0949 503 0174, and (02) 805 3572.
If you know somebody who has cleft lip and palate or other facial deformities, please share this information to them. Let us help change their lives by putting back their precious smiles. [Photo credits: Operation Smile Philippines page]
