The group, a charity based in America that provides free surgeries, was last in Zimbabwe in July 2012. During that visit, the team of international doctors and surgeons performed 52 facial reconstructive operations.
The August mission will be the 13th since Operation of Hope first started coming to Zimbabwe in 2006, and to date more than 720 free surgeries have been performed in the country.
Although the charity traditionally helps children in need, the surgeries in August are available to people of all ages with facial disfigurements, such as cleft lips and cleft palates.
Potential patients are encouraged to make their way to Harare Central Hospital on August 4th for a pre-surgery screening, where doctors will assess their needs and assign their surgical days. The surgeries will then take place from August 5th until August 9th.
Operation of Hope is being assisted by the local Zimbabwe Rotary Club, which is helping with logistics on the ground.
Rotary’s Stewart Chipato told SW Radio Africa more about the plans for August and explained that all costs for the patients are taken care of, including food and accommodation.
“If they can get to the hospital, there is no other cost. They (the patients) will be given food and accommodation and will be taken care of for the duration,” Chipato explained.
He also added that “arrangements can be made for the families, if they don’t have relatives to stay with in Harare.”
“I think this is a life changing experience… I tell you, I was really moved (during the 2012 mission). It is a soul moving mission. When I first attended I really thought this should be done more often than not,” Chipato said.
He added: “There are more children and others with need of this surgery and they are very beautiful, but because of their deformity they suffer emotionally. So to see what this surgery can do. This is a miraculous mission.”
The screening day starts at 8am on August 4th at Harare Central Hospital. Potential patients are asked to bring all pertinent medical records and information for the screening. – SW Radio Africa News
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