Behind every smile is a story of hope, and thanks to a three-day specialist oral healthcare programme in Mpumalanga, more than 200 children and families just began a bright new chapter!
Mpumalanga, South Africa (29 July 2026) – Some of the most meaningful work happens when people give their time. Just last week, more than 200 lives were seen, valued, treated, and forever transformed. That is what Operation Smile South Africa, in partnership with the Mpumalanga Department of Health, made possible during a powerful three-day programme at Rob Ferreira Hospital in Mbombela.
A specialist team of Operation Smile volunteers, including cleft surgeons, anaesthesiologists, paediatricians, nurses, dentists, speech therapists, psychologists, play specialists, medical records specialists and patient imaging technicians packed their bags and travelled from across the country to work alongside the Rob Ferreira Hospital surgical and dental teams.
From Friday, 24 July to Sunday, 26 July, over 200 patients walked into the hospital carrying hopes for improved health and a brighter future. The initiative combined life-changing cleft surgery with a free community dental clinic, bringing essential, compassionate healthcare to children and families across the province.
Over the course of the weekend, 16 patients underwent cleft lip and palate surgery, while 211 children from across the community accessed free dental treatment through a dedicated oral health programme delivered by the Rob Ferreira Hospital Dental Department, with support from Operation Smile South Africa.
The dental programme provided children up to the age of 12 with access to essential oral healthcare services, including fillings, scale and polishes, extractions, dental restorations, fissure sealants and pulpotomies (root canals on baby teeth), helping address both immediate treatment needs and long-term oral health.
Partnerships making a lasting impact
Sasekani Manzini, Mpumalanga MEC for Health, expressed that the partnership with Operation Smile South Africa has become an important part of strengthening access to specialised cleft care in Mpumalanga.
“Beyond the surgeries themselves, this collaboration is helping to build local healthcare capacity, strengthen multidisciplinary services and improve referral pathways for patients and their families.
“We are particularly pleased to have recently extended our Memorandum of Understanding with Operation Smile South Africa for a further three years, ensuring this important work can continue to benefit communities across the province,” Manzini said.
One of the parents whose child benefited from the cleft surgical programme, Portia Mashego from Bushbuckridge, a town about 120km north of Mbombela in Mpumalanga, shared that seeing her child’s smile after the operation has brought her so much joy.
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The power of community support
“We have been overwhelmed by the generosity and support shown by the Mbombela community throughout the weekend,” says Sarah Scarth, Executive Director of Operation Smile South Africa.
Scarth extended her appreciation to everyone who helped make this programme possible – from the medical volunteers and sponsors for so generously caring for the volunteers, patients and their families.
“Together, you have helped us provide life-changing care to children and families who need it most.”
Comprehensive care beyond surgery
Beyond delivering surgery and oral healthcare, the programme focused on multidisciplinary cleft care while strengthening local healthcare capacity through collaboration, mentorship and skills transfer.
Following surgery, patients remained under the care of the multidisciplinary team until they received their final post-operative assessments and were discharged.
Every child and family received compassionate care at no cost, made possible by the generosity of Operation Smile South Africa’s partners and supporters, and will now be able to move forward with restored confidence, dignity, health, and a chance to thrive.
For more information, visit www.operationsmile.org.za
Sources: Supplied
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