The Smile Foundation, with its partners, continued its remarkable work through corrective surgeries to improve the lives of children born with facial defects,as well as those whose defects are due to accidents.
Priority is given to children whose families are unable to pay for surgery.
Surgeries are performed twice a year, during the first quarter and the last quarter, at the Universitas Academic Hospital in Bloemfontein by a team of plastic and reconstructive specialists. The team consists of Efraim van der Walt, Nikita Blake, Adam Alnabi, Nathan Kaplan, Gert Steyn, Abegail Haswell and Travis Page.
Letitia Jordaan, Smile Foundation representative, confirmed that the medical team has successfully completed another marathon of surgeries on 17 of 18 children, as one child did not turn up for surgery. The life-changing surgeries were performed from 11 to 14 April.
“Corrective surgeries done include those on cleft palates, as well as prominent ear defects on some of the children,” said Jordaan.
According to researchers, most birth defects are due to a complex mix of factors, which range from genetics and chromosomal problems, to exposure to medicines, chemicals and infections during pregnancy, as well as a lack of certain nutrients.
Among the beneficiaries of corrective surgery were Malefu Buthelezi and Khahliso Mokone. Malefu is a fire survivor, and had plastic surgery for burn scars. Khahliso was born with an upper cleft lip.
Van der Walt, who has first-hand experience of having to take on the world with a facial abnormality, has made it his task to give children their smile and hope.
“I was born with a cleft lip and palate 60 years ago in a small town in the Free State,” said Van der Walt.
“Very little knowledge, and no support and plastic surgery was available in the province at that stage.
“My parents wanted to give me the best they could and came to know about Dr Jack Penn at the Brenthurst Clinic in Johannesburg. This was my first encounter with plastic surgery,” he explained.
Kim Robertson Smith, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Smile foundation, commented on Van der Walt’s contribution.
“We feel honoured and privileged to be able to provide these opportunities for Dr Efraim van der Walt to do more of his wonderful work in helping children to look and live normally.
“Without the unwavering commitment and compassion of great surgeons, and the dedicated staff at the Universitas Academic Hospital, such initiatives would not be possible. It is through people like him that we are able to continue the legacy of our life-changing Smile Weeks.”
