Vodafone Ghana Foundation, under its Employee Volunteerism initiative, has partnered Operation Smile, a volunteer-based children’s medical charity, to create awareness about a free surgical procedure for Ghanaians living with cleft lips and palate.

The 45-minute surgery, which would be conducted by a team of international medical professionals from across the globe, is scheduled to take place at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Central Region on April, 9.

The Foundation has therefore urged the public to help identify and register Ghanaians with cleft lips for the free surgery by dialling 0502407860.

Commenting on the initiative, Nana Yaa Afriyie Ofori-Koree, Foundation and Sustainability Manager at Vodafone Ghana, said the telecommunication giant, is ready to provide access to health solutions that would empower Ghanaians of uneven financial strength to be happy, free and live in a good health.

“People with such defects experience pain when eating, speaking, breathing properly and socialising in the society, and the Foundation is ready to ease their pain through the surgery,” she said.

Simone Vaccari, one of the volunteers and the project leader, said its objective is to reach and register Ghanaians living with cleft lips and palate for the free operation.

“I am excited to be part of this campaign to create awareness for this palate defect which is considered a curse in some communities and eventually affects the self-esteem of people with such conditions,” he said.

He said, besides providing free surgeries to repair the facial deformities, there would be free accommodation and food for the beneficiaries and a family member during the entire period of the operation.