Plaquette d'information   Give me a Smile

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In the last fifteen years or so, Operation Sourire teams haveoperated on over 4,000 children and teenagers.

Worldwide.Popular beliefs frequently refer to children suffering from malformationsas being under a curse, and they are consequently kept apart.Thanks to an operation, these “evicted” men, women and childrenhave recovered their face, smile and rightful place in society.A hope they thought they had lost for ever.When I told Fatoumata I could not operate on her during this mission,she simply lowered her eyes.And then she smiled, a little sadly, as sick children tend to do. “Fatou, we will come back in four months,you will have to wait, but I promise we will operate on you.

”We have always kept our promises".

Fatou has a facial malformation that distorts her smile.A cleft lip, or a harelip as it is described rather coarsely.An operation lasting one hour and a half is all it takes to repair her lip.And all that will remain is one small scar.Fatou will be pleased, she will be able to smile like other children She will attend school.And one day, we will hear that she is happily married.

Dr François FOUSSADIER