Programme brings smile to children with lip, palate deformities
The Department of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs and the General Hospital of the northern mountainous province of Son La, in collaboration with Operation Smile Vietnam (OSV), are organising a cleft lip and palate surgery programme for local children from August 26-29.
Dr. Le Trung Nghia, head of OSV's volunteer team, said this is the third time the team has conducted the programme of this kind in Son La.
During the programme, doctors will perform surgeries to reshape lips, rebuild palates, and restore lips to give patients a new facial appearance. These procedures aim to improve their ability to speak, eat, and drink, helping them better integrate into the community.
On August 25, doctors conducted screenings and provided consultations for 155 patients and recommended surgery for over 80 children with congenital facial deformities such as cleft lips, cleft palates, cleft lips and palates, lip scars, nasal deformities, and congenital drooping eyelids. The patients also received partial support for travel, food, and accommodation expenses during their hospitalisation.
The programme offers a chance to local medical staff and doctors to learn from experience and gain access to advanced scientific and technical knowledge and surgical techniques.
