Over three years, £80,000 is being paid to help the charity develop and support cleft lip and palate treatment programmes which have a lasting impact in developing countries.
Operation Smile carries out hundreds of surgical programmes worldwide, with the long-term vision of improving the local healthcare system in the areas in which it operates.
In addition to mobilising highly accredited medical volunteers, Operation Smile trains local medical professionals and partners with hospitals, governments, and ministries of health to ensure that safe and effective surgery is a right for everyone in need.
Les Joffe, CEO of the European Aligner Society, commented, “The European Aligner Society Board considered what it could do with surpluses generated by sponsorship and delegate fees from a series of highly successful congresses and meetings.
“EAS is a not-for-profit organisation so we created a ‘Legacy Fund’ into which surpluses could be directed. This fund focuses on three aspects:
1. Donating funds to worthy causes in the oral health field
2. Applying funds to research projects in the aligner field
3. Launching ‘Summer Schools’ in aligner education for young aspiring orthodontists”
Les added, “The EAS chose to collaborate with Operation Smile, an internationally renowned charity, as we were particularly interested in its work on patients with cleft conditions in developing countries. Operation Smile works with clinicians to initiate the diagnosis, repair and support for patients with a cleft at the start of life.”
The charity ensures that its ongoing programmes are run by local medical teams, with over 85 per cent of programmes managed by local teams. This demonstrates the significance of the work the charity implements with local healthcare professionals.
Les concluded, “The expertise that Operation Smile brings to each country is handed onto the local clinicians so that ongoing care and support can be carried on locally and the hands-on training and support for a range of oral health projects globally meant that our legacy fund could in turn fund a significant legacy in less developed countries.
“This process takes funds, and EAS was happy to be able to offer Operations Smile £80,000 over three years to help develop and support cleft lip and palate repair programmes. The outcomes of Operation Smile’s work are both wonderful and heart-warming. You only have to look at the organisation’s website to understand why EAS, with it sponsors and delegate support, want to support what Operation Smile is achieving - it is so worthwhile.”
The EAS has a burgeoning membership of orthodontists and dentists with a special interest in clear aligner orthodontics. Its most recent congress in Valencia, Spain was attended by over 1,300 dental professionals from 60 countries and supported by most of the main clear aligner companies.
Phil McDonald, Operation Smile UK’s medical director, board member and one of the charity’s medical volunteers, said, “We are extremely grateful to the European Aligner Society for their generous commitment to our life-changing work.
“In the countries where we work, we estimate that five million people with cleft conditions need our help. Most of them lack access to safe surgery and cleft care.
“Our ongoing commitment to providing safe surgery and comprehensive care, including dental and orthodontic care, is made possible by visionary partners like the European Aligner Society.
“Their support enables us not only to offer vital support and make a profound impact on those born with cleft conditions and their communities, but also to provide training and education to local medical professionals. This empowers them to provide safe surgeries to their own communities in the future.”