Operation Smile Programs Overview Operation Smile Program Essay

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Operation Smile Programs Overview

Operation Smile Program Overview

Operation Smile Overview

Operation Smile Program Overview

Operation Smile Program Overview

Cleft palate and cleft lip are among the most common birth defects occurring today (NIDCR, 2011). Together, these conditions occur in 0.17% of all births in the United States and between 2004 and 2006 represented 7,088 cases annually. The lifetime healthcare burden of these birth defects in the U.S. is close to $700 million.

Cleft lip/palate represents the failure of tissues to join during fetal development, which can lead to nursing, feeding, and speech problems (MedlinePlus, 2012). As a result, 10% of these children will die within the first year of life (Kraft, 2011). The social stigma associated with the birth defect is also substantial, contributing to the high mortality rate and lifelong social isolation. Children in poverty-stricken areas of the world are particularly vulnerable because they lack access to health care. In 1982, while working in the Philipines, Dr. William P. Magee and wife Kathleen discovered that many children were faced with lifelong health and social problems, even though treatment could have relieved their suffering.

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The only thing lacking was funding, and for this reason, the global health care organization Operation Smile was started. Over the years since it was started, millions of evaluations and over 200,000 surgeries have been performed in over 60 countries.

Overview of Programs

Based in Norfolk, Virgina, Operation Smile has helped to establish 35 foundations around the world (Kraft, 2011). These foundations often bring medical care to areas where little to no care is available, providing free medical equipment, medical personnel, evaluations, surgeries, and training for local doctors. Together, these in-country foundations, and the local missions they support, are responsible for 60% of all surgeries performed.

The other 40% of surgeries are provided by international missions, which consist of volunteer medical personnel that travel to participating countries (Kraft, 2011). These volunteers include specially trained surgeons and support personnel, dentists, speech therapists, counselors, and pediatricians. Each visit lasts two….....

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