Sunday Mail Reporter
United States-based volunteer facial reconstructive surgical team Operation of Hope will next week conduct free surgery for children with cleft-lips at Harare Central Hospital.

The team will provide surgery for approximately 65 patients. Typical surgeries will address birth defects such as cleft-lips and cleft-palates.
Operation of Hope is a family-based non-profit organisation headed by executive director Jennifer Trubenbach and her younger brother, Stephen Clawson, who acts as the marketing and development director.

The two have been working together in the foundation that has been offering free surgeries around the world for the past 24 years. In a recent conversation, Trubenbach said: “My brother and I support an incredibly dedicated group of passionate and talented medical volunteers who love what they do.
“Back home, we spend a tremendous amount of time raising much-needed funds and sorting out all the details so our team can work in the field as smoothly as possible.

“This creates long working days, but we welcome the reward of a Zimbabwean mother’s face such as when her child has been helped by our team. The currency of that glow fuels our return to Zimbabwe year after year.”

For this month’s surgical mission, all potential patients are encouraged to be at Harare Central Hospital next Sunday at 8am.
All patients will be assessed for surgery. If a candidate is selected, they will be placed on a surgery schedule that runs from Monday July 30 to Tuesday August 7.

Anyone, any age, from anywhere, who can get to the hospital and has a facial deformity will be evaluated. Patients are also encouraged to bring all medical records available for the evaluation.

Although surgery could cost between US$40 000 and US$90 000 in the United States, there is no charge to the patients or their families.
The initiative is possible, courtesy of donors, sponsors, Rotarians, locals and philanthropists from around the world.