(VNF) - Operation Smile Vietnam launched first medical mission of the year at the National Hospital of Odonto-Stomatology on Monday. The first activity of the free surgeries campaign for children born with cleft lips and palates is health screening.

74 patients attending Operation Smile #1 medical mission 2017 are from northern provinces, including Ha Noi, Thai Nguyen, Tuyen Quang. Yen Bai province reportedly has the largest number with 30 patients.

Following the Operation Smile standard practiced globally, the program kicked start with Screening day, in which all patients receive adequate medical checkup to make sure they are qualified for surgery.

Key requirements for safe surgery to be operated are: those born with cleft lips must be at least 6 months old and weigh at least 8kg; while patients of cleft palates must be at least 18 months old with minimum weight of 12kg. Patients must be free from cardiovascular diseases, epilepsia or other neurological disorders, fever and infection.

More Vibrant Smiles - Mission: Possible with Operation Smile VN (photo: Phi Yen)

Reported by Operation Smile Vietnam, by the end of Mar 20, doctors and medical practitioners have completed health screening procedures for totally 74 patients, of which 54 received qualified status to join the operation on the next days of the week.

Since it first inception in 1989 as part of the normalization process between Vietnam and America, Operation Smile has been providing close to 40,000 free surgeries and medical treatments to the Vietnamese children and families, bring them new lives, hopes and dignities./.

( Phi Yen )