Operation Smile restores smile to over 100 persons in Settat
Morocco, Health, 4/30/2005

150 children and young adults ravaged by deformities benefited from free surgical operations held in Hassan II hospital in Settat (157 south of Rabat) by Operation Smile volunteers, according to medical sources.

Under the auspices of princess Lalla Meriem, the "Operation Smile Morocco" will carry out 220 surgical operations in Hassan II hospital marking the first Operation Smile mission in this region.

Operation Smile team of medical and non-medical volunteers conduct a medical mission at Hassan II hospital to change the lives of Settat population April 28 through 30.

The team consists of plastic surgeons, anaesthesiologists, nurses, a paediatrician, a dentist, speech pathologist and child life therapist from the USA, Canada, France, Brazil, the Philippines and Morocco. They provide free medical evaluations and reconstructive surgery.

They work together to change the lives of local population suffering with cleft lips, cleft palates, tumours, burns and other facial deformities. Through the team's efforts, people from throughout Morocco will have the chance to lead a normal life.

US ambassador to Morocco, Thomas Riley, who paid a visit to Hassan II hospital, noted the importance of this operation to restore smile to children and young adults who suffer from facial deformities stressing the importance of NGOs and public authorities cooperation to achieve such initiatives.

Founded in 1999, "Operation Smile Morocco," which is a branch of Operation Smile International, headquartered in Virginia (USA), carried out over 3,000 surgical operations throughout the kingdom notably Agadir, Casablanca, Laayoune, Marrakech, Meknes, Rabat and Tangier.

Founded in 1982, Operation Smile International has provided free reconstructive surgery to tens of thousands of children and young adults in 25 developing countries and the United States, bringing them new hope and new lives.

As a recognition to its efforts, Operation Smile was awarded the first Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize in 1996 and the Kellog's Hannah Neil World of Children Award in 1999.

In 1999, Operation Smile conducted World Journey of Hope 99, the largest-ever surgical mission dedicated to correcting cleft lips and cleft palates, bringing care to more than 5,000 children in 18 countries and the United States during nine weeks.

Previous Stories:
  Moroccan medical team separates Siamese   (4/29/2005)
  'Operation Smile' Launched in Morocco   (4/2/2004)
  Some 160 surgeries on facial malformations performed in southern city   (4/7/2003)
  Operation Smile launches second mission in Marrakesh   (3/7/2003)

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