Operation Smile ready to makemany Cebuanos smile again

CEBU, Philippines - Operation Smile will start recruiting beneficiaries with cleft lips and/or cleft palates on September.

This is in preparation for their 15th annual mission in Cebu on November 23 to December 1, sponsored by the Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung Charitable Foundation Inc. (MSYCFI).

MSYCFI Executive Director Monette Aliño said that the screening will be on November 24 while the surgery of qualified beneficiaries will be from the 26th to 30th at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Those who have cleft lips and cleft palates may contact the MSYCFI office at telephone number 231-1829 or visit their office at Room 501 Cebu Holdings Bldg., Ayala Business Park, Cebu City.

Aliño said that beneficiaries with cleft lips and/or cleft palates may also register at any of the health centers in the Province and City of Cebu.

The international organization is celebrating its 30th Jubilee of Operation Smile in the Philippines while the MSYCFI is celebrating its 15th year of hosting the mission in Cebu.

“We have treated almost 3500 children and young adults,” said Aliño.

The international medical team of 52 people will be billeted at the Radisson Blu Hotel, which is the host hotel. Operation Smile is a private, not-for-profit volunteer medical services organization providing reconstructive surgery and related health care to indigent children and young adults in developing countries and the United States.

Last June 19, MSYCFI Chairperson Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung and Aliño were in Manila for a very important briefing with Operation Smile founders, Dr. Bill and Kathy Magee where they had a conference regarding the upcoming activity.  (FREEMAN)