The Smile Foundation’s work in the North West province this past week, promises to restore the confidence and smiles of children who were born with facial abnormalities. Eleven children were operated on at the Tshepong Hospital in Klerksdorp.
The Foundation says it has already performed more than 5000 surgeries across the country to address birth defects among children.
The Smile Foundation says there is still a stigma attached to facial abnormalities and that some parents hide their children with facial abnormalities like cleft lip and palate.
Elaine Ngwenya from Smile foundation explains.
“When the child is identified with facial deformities the parents tend to hide the child because they assume that something is wrong. So we want to make sure that parents know that there is nothing wrong. So we have co-ordinators that visits various clinics in the county to inform the parents that the is absolutely nothing wrong with your child, your child was born like that and it can be corrected.”
Parents say this campaign has given them hope.
“In my case my baby is now 10 months, I have now got helped. Whoever has the same situation mustn’t give-up.”
“I like to encourage all women who have children with disability to come and receive help so that the child can feel free.”
Media Advisory: MEC MADODA SAMBATHA AND THE SMILE FOUNDATION TO PUT SMILE ON YOUNG FACES. pic.twitter.com/3QG2YSyDbG
— North West Health (@NorthWestDOH) April 18, 2023
