U.S. Operation Smile Flying Hospital lands in Morocco to operate on Moroccan children with facial deformities

The Flying Hospital of the U.S Operation Smile is currently on the ground at the international airport of Casablanca to operate on Moroccan children suffering from facial deformities.

The non-governmental organization started on Monday operating some 150 Moroccan children in Casablanca's Moulay Youssef Hospital and on board the Flying Hospital.

A specially-equipped L-1011 jumbo jet, the Flying Hospital provides the focal point for World Journey of Hope 99 and serves as a teaching tool through the use of tele-medicine and on-board surgeries.

In a cooperative effort with Operation Smile, the Flying Hospital, also a non-profit humanitarian organization, transports medical teams, equipment and supplies in support of the World Journey of Hope.

The World Journey of Hope 99 is embarking on a nine-week international mission in five regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and South America to care for 5,000 children suffering from cleft lips, cleft palates and other facial deformities.

To launch the journey, Operation Smile has organized an international medical team of 1,000 volunteer surgeons, anesthesiologists, dentists, nurses, speech therapists and other professionals who will be joined by approximately 2,000 colleagues at sites around the world.

Founded in 1982, Operation Smile is a humanitarian and medical relief organization dedicated to helping improve the health and lives of children worldwide by correcting their facial deformities. It also trains local medical professionals and provides necessary equipment.