6,700 patients have been operated on since the beginning of the project in 1989

Our reconstructive surgery project, Opération Sourire, gives back a smile to hundreds of people disfigured by disease or war, traditional practices or difficult living conditions. In the countries where we work, reconstructive surgery is not a priority for local health policy, whilst there is a strong demand. The people worst affected by these conditions are the poorest. Since 1989, Opération Sourire teams have been working in close cooperation with local doctors to help these forgotten people.

ACTIVITIES

Opération Sourire activities are based on two main priorities: surgical operations and training local doctors. Volunteer teams from France, Germany and Japan carried out 21 missions in 2008 in 9 countries across Africa and Asia. This meant operations on 760 patients, the majority of whom were children. That means more than 6,700 patients have been operated on since the beginning of the project. Treating deformities, or their consequences, through surgery helps the physical rehabilitation of patients and improves their daily life in many ways, from eating to speaking to restarting movement and regaining the use of arms or legs. Beyond the operation itself, this surgery allows patients to reassert their place in their family and community.

The projects are also excellent opportunities for exchange between the team and host country. Our teams train surgeons, anaesthetists and theatre nurses in maxillofacial surgery techniques, as well as how to improve the way an operating theatre functions (asepsis, equipment, planning, etc). For the surgeons, it is, above all, about training through mentoring, done in a practical way and always on a oneto- one basis, with the local surgeon learning “over the shoulder” of the Opération Sourire surgeon.

COUNTRIES

Bangladesh, Benin, Cambodia, Eritrea, Yemen, Madagascar, Mali, Mongolia, Niger

OUTLOOK

In 2009, Opération Sourire plans to roll out 25 projects in 9 countries. The projects will always focus on both surgical operations and training local staff. In addition there may be new exploratory missions in Armenia, Pakistan, Nepal and Mali. As in previous years, the interventions will be carried out by French, German and Japanese teams, in collaboration with local partners, hospitals and NGOs.

Datas

Funding	Fondation L’Oréal, Les Gueules Cassées, MdM
Budget 2008	362 000 €

September 2009