Operation Smile Jordan launches free surgical campaign

AMMAN — Operation Smile Jordan, a not-for-profit medical organisation, on Friday launched a free surgical initiative in the presence of HRH Princess Basma at the Prince Hussein Bin Abdullah II Hospital in Ein Al Basha.

Running until Thursday, the initiative will target children who suffer from cleft lip and cleft palate, scars and facial distortions caused by accidents, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

More than 60 volunteer plastic and restoration surgery specialists, both from Jordan and abroad, aim to help 120 Jordanian and non-Jordanian children living in the Kingdom.  

Princess Basma, accompanied by Health Minister Mahmoud Sheyyab, visited the check-up clinics where doctors determine which surgeries the patients need. Surgeries are scheduled to begin on Sunday.

The princess greeted medical, nursing and volunteering teams participating in the campaign, and praised the humanitarian goals of the initiative. 

For her part, Amal Zureikat, the chairperson of Operation Smile Jordan, said that the wide participation in the campaign reflected the noble human message of medicine, and contributed to the exchange of expertise among the participants, in a way that benefits society.

Mohammad Abed, the director of the hospital, reviewed the facility’s modern devices, which qualify it to conduct such surgeries.

Since its establishment in 2004 until the end of last year, the organisation conducted some 3,000 surgeries on Jordanian and non-Jordanian children.