Operation Smile is a private, not-for-profit volunteer medical services organization and worldwide children’s medical charity headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia that provides reconstructive surgery and related health care to indigent children and young adults. Medical volunteers repair cleft lip, cleft palate and other childhood facial deformities while building public and private partnerships to provide training to health care professionals and improve local capacity in partner countries.
Last 10-12 November, Operation Smile Philippines conducted one of its medical missions at the Ospital Ng Makati. Prospective patients have been screened the week before. Volunteers from Citibank, and Johnson & Johnson Philippines were on hand to lend their time and energy to this worthy cause.
Like all the other missions, this one had a good turnout
In 1982, Dr. William P. Magee, Jr., a plastic surgeon, and his wife, Kathleen S. Magee, a registered nurse, both of Virginia, U.S.A. , participated in a medical mission with a group of medical volunteers to repair children’s cleft lips and cleft palates in Naga City, Philippines. That time the team could only treat 40 children. They soon found out that the need was greater than they realized. Overwhelmed by what they saw, they made a promise to come back. What began as an idea to help a few children has grown into a network of volunteers and evolved into a mission to continuously transform thousands of lives.
All kids are beautiful.
This particular mission is no different as this is part of a series of missions regularly performed worldwide in an effort to provide treatment and hope to those afflicted with cleft palates and cleft lips.
Some first-time volunteers were surprised at the huge turnout, with some patients coming from provinces as far as Romblon.
Click here to know more about Operation Smile. To volunteer, click here.
A patient being screened.
Patients came from as far as Romblon.
Nonie Perez of Johnson & Johnson coordinating with the patients
Filed under: Audience of One | Tagged: CSR, Johnson & Johnson, Operation Smile, volunteerism
