Operation Smile enters into a R2 million partnership with UCT Global Surgery

Operation Smile South Africa has entered into a R2 million partnership with UCT that it says will strengthen surgical capacity in cleft surgery for sub-Saharan Africa

Operation Smile, a global non-profit with an office in Mowbray, helps needy patients with cleft lips and palates access free corrective surgery.

The two-year partnership was announced on Tuesday April 11 and it will see Operation Smile pay UCT’s Global Surgery division R2 million to “train paediatric anaesthesia medical staff at Red Cross Children’s Hospital, sponsor postgraduate degree scholarships, offer surgical leadership and clinical courses advancing excellence in surgical and peri-operative cleft care and provide leadership training in global surgery,” according to Sarah Scarth, the executive director of Operation Smile South Africa.

Dr Rebecca Gray, of UCT Global Surgery, who is also a paediatric anaesthetist at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, said they were excited to be working with Operation Smile to improve medical care for children in sub-Saharan Africa.

“At the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, we know our training is world class and our patients represent the range of challenges faced by surgeons and anaesthetists across the continent,” she said.

Head of the UCT Global Surgery division Professor Salome Maswime said congenital abnormalities were largely missed during antenatal care, and babies born with conditions needing surgery were not able to have surgery at birth or even within the first year of life because of the shortage of specialists and specialised services in many African countries.

“The opportunity to partner in the training of clinical and research fellows with Operation Smile, will ensure that more babies are reached, and treated for clefts in our own communities,” she said.

Visit operationsmile.org.za or call 021 447 3608 for more information.