As many as 150 free cleft lip and palate surgeries will be conducted on children in the central provinces of Nghe An, Ha Tinh and Quang Binh in an attempt to help them integrate into society and pursue their education.

The programme, running from November 17-22, is jointly organised by the Operation Smile Organisation, Nghe An province’s Hospital 115 and fund for child care and protection.

In recent years Nghe An implemented a number of policies and programmes on child care and protection, especially for children with disabilities.

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Over the past 20 years, the province mobilised over 178 billion VND (8.36 million USD) to help almost 80,000 children access medical services.

Additionally, 3,000 cases of optical malformation were treated and over 3,500 cleft lips and palates were operated on. The heart surgery programme saved the lives of 835 children living with congenital heart disease.

On the occasion, the Construction Corporation No 4 (CIENCO 4) gave 150 gifts to the children receiving surgery.

Operation Smile also ran a training course on “therapeutic language” for medical staff and officers of the provincial fund for child care and protection.

Nghe An is home to more than 200,000 people with disabilities.

Source: VNA