In a world where healthcare is often urgent and costly, Operation Healing Hands has spent the last decade ensuring that those on the longest waiting lists are never forgotten.
South Africa (21 April 2026) – Back in 2016, a group of registered surgeons in the private sector decided to launch a Mandela Day initiative to honour the legacy of former president Nelson Mandela by operating on patients desperately awaiting surgery.
The hope was that this small gesture would change the lives of a few people who primarily depend on the heavily burdened South African state hospitals for relief of pain and disability.
Since then, this initial one-week charity drive has expanded into a full-blown non-profit company: Operation Healing Hands, which is now celebrating 10 outstanding years of healing and changing lives!
“On 9 May, we celebrate 10 years of changing lives together with our incredible partners, sponsors and friends,” OHH said.
To celebrate this amazing milestone, the charity kicked off the beginning of its big birthday month with six surgeries on six little patients who will be smiling even more following their procedures!
Over the years, OHH has truly embodied its name and mission, offering free, life-changing procedures to countless individuals. Many of these patients would have otherwise remained on lengthy state hospital waiting lists, enduring pain or challenging health conditions with little hope for relief.
Some of these remarkable procedures are illustrated by the stories of Lesedi Mtungwa, who received a pro-bono lip reconstruction; Kendra, who underwent years of facial reconstruction procedures, including scalp expansion for skin grafts that have allowed her to lead a better quality of life with less discomfort; and Steffan Korb, who was given the gift of hearing through a cochlear implant.
These patients are just some of the thousands, and OHH has no plans of slowing down.
As the team of doctors and health professionals behind this powerful movement prepares to share even more inspiring stories leading up to the big birthday, we stand with them in honouring an achievement that has brought hope, healing, and lasting change to so many lives.
Sources: Operation Healing Hands
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