Marking the first international mission of Operation Smile to Vietnam in 2016, the events will take place simultaneously in Hanoi and Thua Thien-Hue province with the support and involvement of 150 credentialed medical professors from different countries in the world, including America, North Africa, England, Italy, Peru, Sweden, Russia, Canada, Australia, the Philippines, India, Ireland, Mexico, and so on, to work together with 200 local doctors and nurses to bring smiles to children living in the northern and central provinces.

Around 400 under-privileged children will be provided screening, medical consultations, and another 250 will benefit from free surgeries.

Medical volunteers of Operation Smile will also perform dental interventions and treatments for around 3,000 primary students living in Phu Bai district, Huong Thuy town and Hue city, where children and their families lack access to comprehensive oral health care.

Besides, it will organize a dental conference instructed by leading American professors to introduce and update the newest techniques in dentistry for 70 dentists and orthodontists in Hanoi.

Dr. Nguyen Dinh Phuc, General Director of Vietnam - Cuba Friendship Hospital, who had supported Operation Smile since its inception, said: “In more than 25 years of partnership with Operation Smile, we are proud to be a part of the journey of smiles which have brought new smiles and brighter future for more than 39,000 Vietnamese children who were born with cleft lips and/or cleft palates. We hope that medical volunteers like us and Operation Smile will receive the full support of the community for a better society where our children will live normal lives of acceptance and love.”

These meaningful activities will be welcoming members of the Advisory Board of Operation Smile Vietnam and its ambassadors, especially the participation of Miss Vietnam 2006 Mai Phuong Thuy, singer Duc Tuan and American comedian and actress Whitney Cummings.

They will stand side by side with Operation Smile medical professors to experience life-changing surgeries, and hand over special smile bags comprising gifts donated by P/S Vietnam and prepared by dedicated volunteers of the organization./.

( VNF )