ABU DHABI: Operation Smile UAE, in collaboration with Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, part of M42 group, has announced a surgical program to provide free cleft lip and palate surgeries to 17 candidates and dental care to additional patients. This initiative, which continues until October 21, 2024, marks the eighth collaborative effort between the organizations to offer crucial surgical treatments to those in need within the UAE.
According to Emirates News Agency, the program will cater to children as young as four months and adults, encompassing a diverse range of nationalities residing in the UAE. Cleft lip and palate represent the third most common birth defect globally, affecting one’s ability to eat, speak, and hear, and potentially leading to social and emotional challenges.
Comprehensive care provided by Operation Smile UAE includes not only surgeries but also dental, orthodontic, speech and language therapy, and psychosocial support. This holistic approach is crucial for effectively addressing the multi
faceted needs associated with cleft conditions.
A team of 46 medical volunteers from various UAE hospitals will contribute their expertise in surgery, anesthesia, nursing, speech therapy, dentistry, and orthodontics. Dr. Mahdi Shkoukani, Field Medical Director and Chair at the Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery department of Surgical Subspecialties Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, will lead the medical team. Dr. Shkoukani, an internationally credentialed volunteer with Operation Smile, highlighted the significant advancements in medical technologies and the critical role of multidisciplinary care in these surgeries.
In addition to medical professionals, the program is supported by ten high school student volunteers and numerous caregivers from Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, reflecting a strong community commitment to the cause. The facility’s contribution includes two operating rooms, a recovery room, a patient ward, dental chairs, medications, medical consumables, and meals for volunteers and gu
ardians, ensuring comprehensive care.
Morag Cromey-Hawke, Executive Director of Operation Smile UAE, expressed gratitude for the resources and expertise available through their collaboration with Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. She emphasized the transformative impact of the surgeries on patients, stating that procedures as brief as 45 minutes for a cleft lip correction and 90 minutes for a cleft palate repair can profoundly influence the patients’ lives.
A parent, whose child previously underwent surgery in the Operation Smile program at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, shared their heartfelt appreciation, noting the profound change in their child’s self-perception following the surgery.