Operation Smile back in Cebu, offers free surgery

CEBU, Philippines - At least 200 children with cleft lip and palate will be operated on for free by the Operation Smile Cebu next month during its 14th year anniversary.

International and local doctors will conduct the free surgery for indigent children with facial deformities. The surgery would cost between P60,000 to P100,000 in private hospitals.

Operation Smile Cebu is a major project of the Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung Charitable Foundation.

Salimbangon-Yeung, who is the chairperson and founder of the foundation, said they have allocated P1.5 million to P2 million annually for the operation smile. The amount will cover the transportation and accommodation costs of the medical volunteers from across the country and abroad.

The international doctors composed of plastic surgeons and anesthesiologists for this Cebu mission will complement the local plastic surgeons, anesthesiologists and other medical professionals from across the country.

Salimbangon-Yeung said that her foundation adopted Operation Smile International Medical Mission as a major project because she was saddened by the statistics showing that one in every 500 babies born is cleft.

Salimbangon-Yeung said there will be a two-day screening at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical for would be beneficiaries. The dates will be announced later.

Operation smile has already helped over 3,000 children since 1998. – (FREEMAN)