Alliance For Smiles

Alliance for Smiles (AFS) is a San Francisco based NGO which specialises in the repair of cleft lip and palate in developing countries, they have been doing this for 20 years. Pre Covid they undertook up to 10 missions per year, at present they undertake around 7.

A team comprising plastic surgeons, anaesthetists, paediatricians and dentists supported by specialist nurses and non-medical support staff, from various countries, undertake surgeries over a two week period to fix cleft lip and palate.

For a child with a disfigured appearance through the cleft lip the surgery is life changing. From being ostracised due to their appearance they suddenly look like everyone else.

For those with a cleft palate, there is difficulty sucking when they are little and eating remains a challege going forward. The hole in the roof of your mouth is constant, once it is closed the child or young person needs help with speach because they how have a roof to their mouth. When your next talking to someone, thry to count the number of times your tongue goes to the roof of your mouth – now imagine what it would be like if you didn’t have a roof to your mouth.

My support of AfS is based on my belief that every child deserve the best posisble start in life, and having a congenital disability in a developing country is a double challenge, not only the disability but no ability to have it remedied.