At this time of year, stories about children often focus on gifts, celebrations and family gatherings. But for many families, especially those relying on the public health system, even basic medical care can feel out of reach. That is why the story of three-year-old Nzulu Mtolo matters.
Nzulu was born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate, a condition that affected his ability to eat, speak and smile. Surgery was needed, but his parents, Sinazo Mtolo and Thandisizwe Maphango, could not afford it. Like many families, they assumed specialised care was simply not possible.
That changed when Nzulu received free surgery through Operation Smile South Africa. Their relief highlights a wider problem: Many parents do not know that help exists, or believe that conditions like cleft lip and palate are permanent disabilities. “They think a cleft lip or cleft palate is a disability, when it is not,” Maphango said.
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Nzulu’s surgery meant that, for the first time, he could eat properly and smile with confidence. His father described a moment many parents take for granted: “Watching him blow out his birthday candles and enjoy cake for the first time was an incredibly powerful moment.” Operation Smile South Africa says it has provided just over 150 free surgeries this year, with more than 500 children helped to date. That figure, while significant, also points to the scale of the unmet need.
There are many more children waiting, particularly in rural areas, whose lives could be changed by a relatively simple medical procedure. These programmes depend on ongoing public support. Donations, corporate sponsorships and partnerships make it possible for surgeries to be offered free of charge in public hospitals.
Without that support, many children will continue to wait years for care that could change their lives. A child’s smile should not depend on where they were born or what their parents earn. Nzulu’s story is a reminder that access to care changes lives in practical, lasting ways.
It also shows why awareness matters. Families need to know that help exists, and that early treatment can make all the difference.
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