This July, we observe Cleft & Craniofacial Awareness Month – a time dedicated to raising awareness and understanding of cleft lip, cleft palate, and other craniofacial conditions. These congenital abnormalities impact the structure of a child’s face and skull, often necessitating a combination of medical, surgical and therapeutic care.
In commemoration of Cleft & Craniofacial Awareness Month, Port Elizabeth Provincial Hospital, together with Smile Foundation and Easigas (Pty) Ltd, will be hosting a Smile Weekend, where 25 children will be undergoing corrective surgery, many of which involves cleft lip and cleft palate repair. The hospital has hosted many Smile Week initiatives, but this weekend is a first, as back-to-back surgeries have been scheduled from 12 to 14 July. What makes this Smile Weekend even more special is that it is taking place during Nelson Mandela Month in our beloved Madiba’s home province.
Since its inception, Smile Foundation has embraced Madiba’s dream of helping those that need it the most. To continue Madiba’s legacy, Smile Foundation is dedicated to offering crucial medical treatments, such as transformative reconstructive surgeries, to children suffering from facial abnormalities and burn injuries. Amongst the children undergoing life-changing surgery, is Enzokuhle, a little six-year-old girl from Kwazakhele in the Eastern Cape. On 9 June 2023, Enzokuhle was involved in a horrific household accident when a kettle, filled with boiling water, fell on top of her.
She sustained extreme burn injuries disfiguring her right ear, her neck and the back of her head. At the time she was rushed to Dora Ngiza Hospital where she received debridement (the removal of damaged tissue from a wound) and will now be undergoing an ear reconstruction as well as scalp tissue expander surgery. Being in Grade R, Enzokuhle is at an age where she is self-conscious about her disfigurement and because of her differences, is often teased by other children in her class. Her family are extremely grateful for her upcoming surgery and look forward to Enzokuhle looking and feeling normal again.
Tarri Parfitt - Chief Executive Officer of Smile Foundation concludes: “To all the surgeons, medical professionals and hospital staff who will be giving up their entire weekend to change the lives of these children undergoing surgery, we offer our deepest gratitude. Your selflessness and dedication to all of our initiatives is truly inspiring. You are the embodiment of compassion and skill, and because of people like you, Smile Foundation can continue to honour Madiba's legacy of uplifting the lives of underprivileged children. We express our heartfelt thanks to Easigas (Pty) Ltd for sponsoring this Smile Weekend and bringing joy to children’s lives. Your dedication to children's health and well-being significantly influences the lives of our patients and their families, and your support has been crucial in realising the success of this Smile Weekend.