Free reconstructive surgeries for cleft lips and cleft palates

CEBU, Philippines - Close to 80 young adults and children aged as young as one month old availed of free cleft lip and cleft palate operations at the University of Cebu Medical Center (UCMed) last May 29 to June 3.

A project of a partnership between UCMed, the Australia-headquartered Operation Restore Hope (ORH) surgical charity, the All-Terrain Medical Relief Organization (AMRO) and the Rotary Club of Cebu Gloria Maris, the free cleft lip and cleft palate operations began with pre-operative screenings at the Out-Patient Department of UCMed on Sunday, May 29 - subsequently followed by operations scheduled throughout this week.

A team of four surgeons, five anesthesiologists, two dentists, and 12 nurses affianced with ORH-USA, together with local professional healthcare providers and support volunteers, are the prime movers of the surgical mission.  (FREEMAN)