15 October

The Victoria Health Support Foundation (VHSF), in collaboration with the Alliance for Smiles Organization from the United States of America, yesterday announced its plans to conduct free surgeries on over 100 children with cleft lip and palate at the Victoria Hospital in Yangon.

Specialists from the ASO and the Victoria Hospital will perform the operations until 25 October.

The program, which started in March, 2014, has brought smiles to nearly 550 children through free surgical operations.

“I brought 6 children with cleft lip and palate from Thibaw, Shan State. The children were collected by midwives in Thibaw Township to undergo surgical operations at Victoria Hospital for their defects. Parents also came to Yangon from 400 miles away to brighten the futures of their children even though they can’t speak in Burmese,” said Daw Nyein Nyein, a local mid-wife from the Village of Hsaungkyae, Thibaw Township.

Children from Shan, Chin, Kayin, Mon, Yangon, Ayawaddy, Mandalay, Bago, Sagaing, and Taninthayi will undergo surgical operations.

Daw Aye Aye San, the chairman of the VHSF, said: “We are inviting children with cleft lips and palates from all over Myanmar. We will accept 10 weeks old children for cleft lip repair and 10 months old children for cleft palate.

We have to call the children to Yangon because fever season is currently on, and it can affect lung capacity and blood pressure. The needed medical services are served by pediatricians. For children and parents who can’t afford the trip, the hospital will bear the responsibility for the trip and stay costs.”

Children can be registered for the surgeries via the Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Association, the Department of Public Health, and public organizations.

The Alliance for Smile Organization repairs cleft lip and palate for kids across the world without profit. This is the 7th time such a surgery is being conducted by a US-based organization, and over 120 children and surgeons have come down from several countries for the operations.

Than Htike (Translated by Ba Htoo Kyaw)