'Operation Smile' Launched in Morocco

The third mission of "Operation Smile" was launched in Marrakesh Thursday in Ibn Tofail Hospital in a bid to bring back the smile to some 200 children suffering from facial malformations.

Operation Smile, founded in 1982, is a humanitarian and medical relief organisation dedicated to helping improve the health and lives of children worldwide by correcting their facial malformations.

This third mission will last until April 9 and will benefit to children afflicted with facial malformations, cleft lips, cleft palates and burns.

Some 50 specialized surgeons and nurses from Morocco and various countries will take part in this year's "Operation Smile." Similar missions are scheduled this year in Casablanca, Laayoune (south) and Al Hoceima (north).

Dr. Gianluca Biavati that is part of this year's medical team explained that this mission is mainly destined to children of rural and landlocked areas of the region of Marrakesh-Tensift El Haouz (southern Morocco).

Over 470 surgeries were carried out during the two last missions of "Operation Smile" in Marrakesh.