Two
Rambam Doctors—and One Beauty Queen—Bring Smiles to Vietnam
(Communicated
by the Spokesperson's Office, Rambam Health Care Campus)
19 January
2015
Just 25
years after the international organization “Operation Smile” began operating in
Vietnam, it has eradicated cleft palate and cleft lip among adults there. Two
Rambam doctors, long-time participants in the project, recently returned from a
marathon of operations that bring fresh hope to hundreds of children in
Vietnam. Working with them were doctors from 18 countries, including Morocco
and Jordan.
Two doctors
from Rambam
Health Care Campus, Dr Omri Amudi, from the hospital’s Department of Oral
and Maxillofacial Surgery and Dr Zach Sharony, from its Department of Plastic
Surgery, have just returned from Vietnam, where they participated in an
international delegation sponsored by the voluntary group, “Operation Smile.”
The
delegation is a long-time tradition with the two doctors. This time, they took
part with some 300 other doctors at six sites throughout Vietnam. For ten days,
the delegation performed over 500 operations on children with cleft palate and
lip.
“Operation
Smile” has run for more than 30 years, 25 of which have included Vietnam. The
organization works mainly in developing countries, where it targets
impoverished populations, in which facial birth defects are widespread. In
contrast to past delegations, the recent group operated only on children. To
help as many patients as possible, delegation members operated 12 hours a day
on a stream of young patients.
“The atmosphere
among doctors was extremely convivial. Our free time was filled with
conversation, jokes and mutual invitations,” says Dr Sharony, adding, “The
cliché that medicine is a bridge between cultures was more apparent than ever.”
During the
delegation’s stay in Vietnam they had an unexpected visit: Mee Huang, Miss
Vietnam of 2011, came by to offer support. The initiative touched the beauty’s
heart, and she decided to join the delegation, assisting with translations and
encouraging the children and participants.
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