Honored Visit by USEC Mary Ann P. Maestral, MD, MBA-HA, FPPS, CHA, FPCHA
We were privileged to welcome the Undersecretary of Health, UHC Health Services Cluster Area III – Visayas, USEC Mary Ann P. Maestral, MD, MBA-HA, FPPS, CHA, FPCHA to our Operation Smile Philippines – Cebu Center of Excellence
Her visit was a testament to the dedication and commitment of the Department of Health (Philippines) to supporting facilities that provide essential services to our communities.
USEC Maestral admired our state-of-the-art facility and the compassionate care we offer to children born with cleft lip and palate. Our center is proud to provide free services to these children, ensuring they receive the best possible care and support.
We are grateful for the DOH’s continued support and look forward to collaborating further to promote our facility and its mission.
Together, we can make a significant impact on the lives of many children and their families across the Philippines.
On July 8, 2024, we proudly launched National Nutrition Month and Cleft Awareness Month with a dynamic and educational nutrition seminar at the Manila Cleft Care Center. This event attended by 17 patients and their families highlighted the crucial role of nutrition in the overall well-being of children with cleft conditions.
The seminar aimed to address the nutritional needs of patients with cleft conditions, offering valuable insights into how proper feeding practices, diet, and nutrition can significantly impact healing and quality of life.
Key Highlights of the Seminar:
1. Presentations: Topics covered included cleft identification, balanced diet planning, the importance of specific nutrients for recovery, and strategies for managing dietary challenges related to cleft conditions.
2. Workshops: Attendees participated in interactive workshops that provided practical tips on meal planning and food preparation. These sessions were designed to empower patients and their families with the knowledge and skills needed to make informed dietary choices.
3. Counselling: One-on-one consultations were offered, allowing participants to discuss the nutrition concerns of their child and receive tailored advice. This personalized approach ensured that each attendee will go home with appropriate techniques and knowledge on how to improve the nutritional status of their child.
4. Nutrition Kit Distribution. Attendees of the seminar were provided with valuable resources, including informative brochures, recipes, and nutrition kits containing items essential for food preparation. These resources were designed to support the guardians and caregivers as they implement the learned strategies at home.
Looking Forward
This seminar was a key event in our celebration of National Nutrition Month and Cleft Awareness Month, emphasizing our commitment to raising awareness and providing support for individuals with cleft conditions. By starting these important months with a focus on nutrition, we aimed to set the stage for continued education and advocacy throughout the year. We are dedicated to continuing our efforts to support patients and their families. We plan to host more educational events and provide ongoing resources to help individuals with cleft conditions thrive.
We extend our gratitude to the attendees and volunteers who made this seminar a success. Your participation and support play a vital role in enhancing the quality of care and promoting better health outcomes among children with cleft conditions.
The OSP-CDU Smile Fest 2024 is a 2-day event spearheaded by the OSP-CDU Chapter under Operation Smile Philippines, dedicated to raising funds for cleft lip and palate patients. This annual initiative started last May 2023 under the leadership of former OSP-CDU President, Mr. Ogie Legaspina. The annual fair plays a crucial role in the organization’s mission to bring smiles to those in need, nurturing and enhancing our commitment to this cause.
The OSP-CDU Smile Fest 2024 was held May 9 and 10 this year with the leadership of Ms. Shera Angeli Saavedra, the current President of OSP-CDU for A.Y. 2023-2024. This year’s OSP-CDU Smile Fest commenced with the theme of “Parada ng Ngiti” which can be translated to a Parade of Smiles. This parade of smiles could be further highlighted with new surprises introduced by the working committees of OSP-CDU for the invited CLAP community members and the graced presence of esteemed executives from Operation Smile Philippines and Cebu Doctors’ University.
OSP-CDU owes the success of this event to all stakeholders who’ve made this event possible from the concessionaires who’ve helped raise funds for cleft lip and palate surgeries of CLAP members, the Cebu Doctors’ University offices who’ve allowed the event to take place in CDU, OSP-CLC for their support in our activities as an organization, the Executive Cabinet and working committees under OSP-CDU who’ve tirelessly worked hard to make all the components of the event come together, and the CLAP members who made time to celebrate the event with us in a parade of smiles!
We hope to see you all once again next year as we continue to celebrate smiles one day at a time!
Coinciding with the Batangas Surgical Program of May 2024, Operation Smile Philippines successfully conducted its first Nutrition Camp, an activity aimed at supporting deferred patients due to malnutrition and underage from the surgical program. This initiative marked a significant step forward in enhancing the health and well-being of children under five years old as they wait for cleft surgery.
The primary objectives of the activity were to increase knowledge about cleft conditions, provide education on optimal nutrition, and equip parents and guardians with practical skills in safe food preparation.
Raising Awareness and Educating Families
The camp offered comprehensive information about cleft conditions, helping parents understand the importance of good nutrition in managing their child’s health and preparing for surgery.
Cooking Demonstration
A significant portion of the camp was dedicated to hands-on demonstrations of proper food preparation techniques. The parents and guardians were guided through the process of preparing balanced, nutritious meals tailored to the needs of children with cleft conditions. These practical sessions aimed to empower families with the skills needed to support their children’s health and recovery.
Provision of Nutrition Kits
In addition to educational sessions, each family received a nutrition kit packed with essential materials. These kits included resources such as nutritional guides, meal planning tips, and tools designed to help with food preparation. The goal was to ensure that families have the necessary support to create a conducive environment for their child’s pre-surgery preparation and recovery.
As the first event of its kind in the history of the organization in the Philippines, the nutrition camp sets a new standard for patient support programs. It addresses the immediate nutritional needs of children awaiting surgery and empowers their guardians to effectively manage their child’s dietary needs at home.
Operation Smile Philippines is committed to continue its efforts in supporting patients and their families as part of its comprehensive cleft care approach. The nutrition camp has laid a strong foundation for future programs aimed at enhancing the overall health and quality of life for children as they await their life-changing surgery.
Operation Smile Philippines’ Executive Director Emiliano Romano was recently inducted as a council member for the East Avenue Medical Center (EAMC) Multi-Sector Consultative Council.
With the thrust of strategic governance and collaborative efforts across various community sectors, EAMC takes proactive steps towards its Transformation Roadmap.
With the goal of elevating the center to greater heights of proficiency in healthcare delivery, the council will play a key role in a collaborative effort in EAMC’s governance mechanism for the proper and efficient implementation of their future plans.
Together with Emiliano, the council members are as follows:
SEC TEODORO “TED” HERBOSA – Secretary of Health
SEC RENATO U. SOLIDUM, JR.. PhD – Secretary, DOST
DR. PAULYN JEAN BUENAFLOR, ROSELL-UBIAL – Adjunct Professor of the UP College of Public Health
MARIA LINDA BUHAT, RN, MAN, Ed. D – President Emeritus, Association of Nursing Service Administrators of the Philippines
DR. RAYMUNDO P. ARCEGA, CESE – Chairman, National Network of Quality Assurance Agencies NNQAA
ATTY. RENE S. GRAPILON, MD – QC Assistant City Administrator for General Affairs
Efforts are underway to achieve Zero Cleft Manila with the cooperation of individuals from various sectors, including both government branches and private healthcare companies. By taking concrete actions, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients with cleft conditions, enhancing their quality of life for many years to come.
On May 23, 2023, the Philippine healthcare system underwent a significant transformation. This was made possible through the collaborative efforts of loyal partnerships, innovation, and teamwork. Operation Smile Philippines received 25 Cleft Care Boxes from Johnson & Johnson, a long-time supporter. Additionally, Listerine, a Johnson & Johnson brand, sponsored infographic tarpaulins to educate society about cleft conditions and raise awareness.
These Cleft Care Boxes contain essential items such as a Pediatric weighing scale, bath weighing scale, height scale, oximeter, and stethoscope. They were distributed to 4 different district health centers across Manila. These items are crucial in identifying patients needing cleft care and bring us one step closer to achieving our Zero-Cleft Manila initiative.
Working together with the Mayor of Manila, Hon. Honey Lacuna, Manila Health Department Dr. Poks Pangan, and Director of Sta. Ana Hospital Dr. Grace Padilla, we seek to enact change through an ambitious initiative of creating a cleft-free Manila. We are grateful for the support and commitment of our partners in this journey towards creating a better healthcare system for all.
Jasmin Selberg, the winner of Miss International 2022 from Germany, along with Nicole Borromeo, who was crowned as Binibining Pilipinas 2022, and the Philippine representative to Miss International 2023, made a special visit to Sta. Ana Hospital. Their charming smiles had a powerful impact on past and present patients. During their visit, the two lovely women took time out of their busy schedules to meet the children, listen to their stories, and share some of their own. The children were ecstatic with their presence but were also treated to a special lunch and dessert, bringing their beautiful smiles all around.
At the event, the children showcased their unique talents. Among them was a young girl who dreams of becoming a vocalist. Despite having undergone surgery for a cleft lip and palate, and receiving speech therapy, she stunned everyone with her beautiful singing voice. Her performance was truly inspiring.
The two pageant winners were given a tour of the Sta. Ana Hospital Center, which is the driving force behind the positive impact on the lives of these children.
Our goal of achieving a cleft-free Manila may seem ambitious, but with the support of others, it is within our reach. To help us achieve our Zero-Cleft Manila initiative, our partner Karo Pharma, a healthcare solutions company from Sweden dedicated to improving people’s health through innovation and high-quality solutions, made a significant contribution on May 23, 2023.
Karo Pharma generously donated 25 Cleft Care Boxes that contain essential items such as pediatric and bath weighing scales, height scales, oximeters, and stethoscopes.
These tools will impact patients in Manila, where the city’s health centers are their primary point of contact. We distributed the boxes to four different district health centers. At the distribution drive, we were honored to have Dr. Poks Pangan from the Manila Health Department and Dr. Grace Padilla, Director of Sta. Ana Hospital, present. Working together is crucial to achieving our goal, and we appreciate Karo Pharma’s support.
In the photo: Jehro, Luke, and their families with AirAsia’s cabin crew.
Philippines AirAsia’s partnership with Operation Smile Philippines (OSP) began this year by transporting two children with cleft lip and palate conditions from Tacloban City to Manila on March 19, 2023. Jehro, who is three years old, and Luke, who is nine months old, received cleft and surgical care at OSP’s Pampanga Cleft Care Center, located in The Medical City Clark.
Jehro was born with both cleft lip and palate conditions. He had his first surgery at seven months old in OSP’s Tacloban Surgical Program in January 2019, right before the pandemic started. He was supposed to have his second surgery in 2020, but the pandemic affected all activities of OSP, causing a delay. However, at the start of 2023, OSP sought patients to fly to Manila for cleft care, and Jehro was chosen as one of the two patients.
Jehro, a 3-year-old boy, is an energetic kid who loves playing and watching sports like football, golf, and billiards. He also enjoys the ocean and exploring the nature around him. He is talkative and likes to sing. Jehro’s parents are very hands-on with their children, and they make ends meet by freelancing and selling clothes online.
“Hindi po namin makakalimutan itong moment na ito. Taos-puso po kaming nagpapasalamat.” [We will never forget this moment until he grows old. We’re grateful sincerely, from the bottom of our hearts.] Jehro’s mom said in an interview with the parents of the children.
Luke was born with a unilateral cleft lip. When he was nine months old, he received his first lip surgery. Luke’s father is a farmer and construction worker who is on call. When Luke was born, his parents were unaware that his condition could be addressed. Additionally, he was the only one in his family with a cleft lip. Upon seeing his cleft lip condition, neighbors often looked at Luke with dismay, but this did not trouble his parents. They immediately committed to the schedule after learning that Luke could receive surgery last March.
“Maraming salamat po sa AirAsia sa tulong po ninyo lalo na po sa anak namin. Di po namin ito makakalimutan. Kayo po ang maaalala namin tuwing ngumingiti po ang anak namin.” [Thank you, AirAsia, for all help specially to our child. We will never forget this. You’ll be the one we’ll remember every time our child smiles.] Luke’s mom said.
L-R: AirAsia Philippines Head of Communications and Public Affairs Steve Dailisan and Chief Executive Officer Ricky Isla hand over a cheque donation amounting to PHP229,249 to Operation Smile Philippines Executive Director Emiliano Romano and Development Manager Carolynne Arriola
In January 31, 2023, OSP and Philippines AirAsia renewed their alliance and strengthened their relationship with new innovative projects in the pipeline. AirAsia has been instrumental in the success of providing care to OSP’s patients, serving as their transportation provider, and sharing their cause with the many transient travelers who pass through their airlines. They announce their cause and collect onboard donations, making them a vital partner in providing care to their patients.
Inflight cash donations totaled more than half a million pesos for the past year, allowing OSP to provide even more comprehensive cleft care to their patients who need it the most. This year marks a new year and new opportunities to improve how to transform smiles more effectively.
AirAsia Philippines Chief Executive Officer Ricky Isla shares: “This reinforced partnership with Operation Smile Philippines signifies our resolve to make it happen for the Filipino children and their families. Our vision in AirAsia of inclusive growth is evident—-beyond connecting people, we want to be there for the people we serve, especially the marginalized. Each time you fly with AirAsia, you don’t just reach your destination safely, but you can change people’s lives for the better.”
Operation Smile Philippines Executive Director Emiliano Romano said, “I am ecstatic about renewing our partnership between Operation Smile Philippines and AirAsia. Our vision and cause of transforming lives cannot be done alone; instead, it takes a community of like-minded individuals to affect change. AirAsia has been an essential partner, a vessel, and a catalyst of change.
We look forward to more projects in the many years to come.”
AirAsia will be vital in transporting medical volunteers and patients in the coming years as Operation Smile Philippines grows.
