Three-year-old Nzulu Mtolo from the South Coast recently blew out his birthday candles for the first time — a milestone made possible by the cleft lip and palate surgeries he received through Operation Smile South Africa’s (Ossa) comprehensive cleft care programme. This achievement comes in a year in which Operation Smile has provided access to specialised free surgery for just over 150 patients, contributing to more than 500 life-changing surgeries to date. “We were overjoyed when we learned that Nzulu could receive free cleft care through Operation Smile,” his parents, Sinazo Mtolo and Thandisizwe Maphango, said.
“We had researched how expensive bilateral cleft lip and palate repair can be, and knowing this support was available free of charge through Operation Smile gave us hope. We are truly blessed and grateful. Watching him blow out his birthday candles and enjoy cake for the first time was an incredibly powerful moment.
It showed us how far he has come and that he has a real chance at a normal, happy future. Nzulu’s family first heard about Operation Smile when the NGO conducted cleft awareness training for Community Healthcare Workers (CHWs) near their former home in rural Bizana, Eastern Cape. The workshop equipped local CHWs with essential skills to identify cleft conditions and refer families to Operation Smile’s free surgical and support services.
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It was during this training that Nzulu’s parents learned that specialised cleft care was available at no cost. Following their referral, they were supported by Operation Smile volunteer nurse Mam Funeka, who provided early feeding assistance and guidance on navigating common challenges associated with cleft conditions.
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