WATANI International
31 May 2009
Hope is on hand for the many children around the world born with craniofacial deformities, which include cleft lip, a serious defect that deprives a child of the ability to smile. Unfortunately many cases are left untreated, and the stigma and ignorance attached with the condition can push a child to depression.
Mrs Suzanne Mubarak has taken the initiative of organising free medical treatment for affected children. The service is in cooperation with the Operation Smile Organisation whose boat docked at Alexandria earlier this month, carrying doctors, surgeons and medical staff who perform operations in the Sharq al-Madina Hospital.
Dr Sherif al-Agami, deputy to the general manager of the hospital, told Watani that, for more than two days, nearly 800 children from Cairo, Beheira, Damanhour, Kafr al-Sheikh, Sinai and Marsa Matrouh were examined and 180 children suffering from unrepaired cleft palates and lips were screened for surgery.
Specialist fields
The medical team consists of 100 surgeons, dentists, anaesthetists, psychologists and nurses of various nationalities. They are supported by Egyptian consultants and volunteers from Egyptian universities and Rotary Clubs. Volunteers act as translators and arrange appointments between doctors and parents.
Dr Agami said 175 surgeries were performed over five days. Each operation would take from an hour to an hour and a half.
Operation Smile was established in America in 1982 and was created by Bill and Kathy Magee after they participated in a Philippine cleft repair mission in 1982 and recognised a need for more such missions. To date, Operation Smile has provided reconstructive surgery for more than 148,000 children and young adults in 52 countries. India tops the list in the number of children who suffer from a cleft lip deformity.
The project began its medical missions in Egypt in 2002 with seven touring caravans to Assiut, Qena and Cairo. This is the first time the caravan holds clinics in Alexandria.
Great Expense
At Sharq al-Madina Hospital, the mother of 11-month-old Menna Ibrahim from Kafr al-Sheikh, who has cleft and palate deformations, said she had had no hope of affording treatment for her daughter until she read about the caravan in the newspaper and learnt that operations were free. Another parent, whose daughter Ann Usama Abdullah has palate deformities and breathing problems, heard about Operation Smile on television. Ann underwent a successful operation for free which she will follow up with a medical check after six months.
Thirteen-year-old Israa Khamis from Dakahleya Governorate has undergone eight operations on her lips, palate and jaw. Her mother says that she came to the hospital for plastic surgery so she could have a beautiful smile just like her friends.