Children born with cleft lips, palates and other facial deformities are being provided free screenings and reconstructive surgery by Chevrolet and Operation Smile Viet Nam. — VNS Photo Vu Hoa
Chevrolet teamed up with Operation Smile Viet Nam on Friday to provide free screenings and reconstructive surgery for 50 children born with cleft lips, palates and other facial deformities in Viet Nam for the fifth year.
This year, the procedures are being performed in Ha Noi by medical professionals from the Viet Nam-Cuba Friendship Hospital, a major medical partner of Operation Smile, from today to December 4. Chevrolet is providing transportation, meal allowances and accommodations for patients and their families. GM Vietnam and Chevrolet dealer employees are also participating in the mission as volunteers.
“For Chevrolet and General Motors, one of our core principles is to act as a responsible corporate citizen in the communities in which we operate. We are committed to serving and contributing to the development of those communities. We want to make a difference in people’s lives.“ said John Willis, Aftersales Director, GM Vietnam.
Every three minutes, a child with a cleft condition is born. Although the condition can be repaired with a relatively simple surgical procedure within the first few months of life, with almost 5 billion people around the world lacking access to any surgical care, a simple procedure like this may not be possible.
As a result, these children can face serious health issues, such as difficulty with eating that can lead to malnutrition or starvation, and recurring ear infections that can cause hearing loss. Those that survive must grapple with devastating and life-threatening effects such as social isolation, impaired speech, bullying, and physical abuse.
Since 2013, GM Vietnam has been working with Operation Smile to provide free screenings and reconstructive surgery for children who have facial deformities in Viet Nam - and since the partnership began, Operation Smile and GM have together brought more than 250 smiles to our children. — VNS