Nearly 60 children born with cleft lip and/or palate deformities were deemed eligible for surgery and received care following both Vietnamese medical standards and global care protocols.
Many children receiving free surgery on this occasion came from provinces, cities, and remote areas, and families facing economic hardship.
According to Nguyen Ngoc Vinh, Deputy Director of Ba Vi District General Hospital, the programme is a humane initiative, aiming to restore smiles and brighten the future for underprivileged children affected by cleft lip and palate conditions.
The hospital arranged designated areas for reception, pre-surgical screening, inpatient wards, and operating theatres to ensure the highest standards of safety and effectiveness throughout the surgical process.
Additionally, the hospital provided accommodation and living arrangements for patients and their families, along with over 100 free meals to support them during their stay.
Importantly, these free surgeries offer not only physical healing but also emotional recovery, helping to address the psychological trauma, inferiority complex, and self-consciousness often experienced by children with facial deformities. Following surgery, many of the children were able to smile radiantly, speak, eat with ease, and feel more confident at school and in social interactions.
For the families, this is an invaluable gift, helping them ease financial burdens, alleviating emotional stress, and nurturing hope for a brighter future for their children. Crucially, they no longer feel alone on the journey of healing, but instead feel supported and accompanied by the wider community.
Speaking at the event, Dr Cao Duc Chinh, Specialist Level II and Director of Viet Nam–Cuba Friendship Hospital (under the Ha Noi Department of Health), shared that this year marks the 36th year of partnership between the hospital and Operation Smile. Together, they have brought new smiles and renewed hope to children with cleft lip and palate, helping them gain confidence and lead fuller lives.
