The priceless gift of a smile

IN A HEARTWARMING milestone that underscores the transformative power of healthcare, three-year-old Nzulu from the South Coast recently blew out birthday candles for the first time.

- DAILY NEWS REPORTER

This joyous occasion was made possible by the life-changing cleft lip and palate surgeries he received through Operation Smile South Africa's (OSSA) comprehensive cleft care programme during his formative years.

As the year draws to a close, Nzulu's family reflects on the profound impact of OSSA's support. “We were overjoyed when we learned that Nzulu could receive free cleft care through Operation Smile,” they said. “Knowing this support was available at no cost gave us hope. We are truly blessed and grateful.”

Before this momentous birthday celebration, Nzulu's journey started from humble beginnings. His parents first learned about Operation Smile while attending cleft awareness training conducted in their former home in rural Bizana, Eastern Cape.

The workshop was part of a programme aimed at training Community Healthcare Workers to identify cleft conditions and refer families to OSSA's free surgical and support services. At the time, Nzulu was a newborn, just weeks old.